Last minute Sanchez winner eases pressure on Jose Mourinho

A last-minute header from Alexis Sanchez grabbed all three points for United after Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto had stunned Old Trafford by putting Newcastle 2-0 up at the break.

With tension in the air, Juan Mata pulled a goal back after 70 minutes and Anthony Martial levelled.

With all the rumours circulating about his impending departure, Mourinho badly needed a fast start from his United team but he got exactly the opposite as Newcastle took the lead after just seven minutes.

Kenedy stunned Old Trafford with a fine run and curled low finish beyond David De Gea, but that was nothing to the disbelief which greeted Newcastle’s second just three minutes later as Muto twisted and turned before firing home from close range.

It could have been worse had De Gea not pulled off another couple of saves and it should have been more when Ashley Young got away with a blatant handball inside the box, as United’s defending bordered on the hapless.

United were vastly improved in the second half though but Newcastle did not help their cause by sitting back almost from the off and inviting pressure, while wasting the early chances they had on the break.

It took a set play to get the hosts back into it as Mata curled in a superb free kick from the edge of the box with 20 minutes left to play, and Martial levelled just six minutes later to set up a grandstand finish.

Both sides had chances to win it but it was substitute Sanchez who popped up with the header in the last minute to send a huge wave of relief crashing over Old Trafford and especially the United manager.