I've seen a lot of confusing reactions from the fan base after this victory, so much so that you would've thought we dropped silly points once again.

Some are saying that they don't feel excited after getting these 3 points or that it's embarrassing to have just 33% possession at home or that they're just happy with finally winning at home for the first time since October.

In a weird way, all of that is true: I too don't feel completely over the moon with this win; 33% possession at Old Trafford to anyone is embarrassing; and I am also happy at getting the victory.

It's a confusing club at the moment that's why us fans feel this way, in my opinion.

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However, why this post is subtitled 'A Christmas Miracle' is because very few saw this win coming.

With the injuries and absentees, the team the manager had to pick and the young bench, it really did seem like there was little and less of a chance for United to pick up the victory they desperately needed.

Yet we did so all the same.

I've said many times that I am more performance-driven rather than results-driven. I'd prefer to see a performance that gives me hope even if the result isn't great over just getting a win with a shit performance. There is no future in it. It's just survival football.

With that being said, for situations like these, I think survival football is acceptable.

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Looking at that starting XI and bench, the little confidence I had heading into this game disappeared almost entirely because let's be honest, that was a pretty crap matchday squad.

And yet, that was one of the more gritty and together performances we've seen from us. It certainly wasn't vintage United but rather, effective United.

Amorim did change his system to what everyone's being calling out for as he actually started with four in defense as it resembled a 4-3-3. That made the players more comfortable as they were playing a formation they are more used to.

It worked, until the manager decided to change it.

Why? I don't know 🤷‍♂️. More on this later.

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After a 20-minute period in which Newcastle were on top, outta nowhere, Dorgu channelled his inner Robin van Persie and hit the sweetest volley on his left-foot after a headed clearance from a United corner. It really was one of those 'Go on Son! moments.

He will never hit a sweeter strike 👌.

The Dane was playing as the right-winger in this 4-3-3 and even before his eventual match-winner, he was playing well. After it, and he turned into prime Gareth Bale. Confidence was high as almost everything he did was on point. Good going forward, strong defensively, this was a performance that showed us Patrick Dorgu has arrived.

This goal allowed Amorim and United to then sit back and soak up the pressure to hit Newcastle on the break and ask them to break down a tight defense. It worked out in our favour as the Geordie's didn't score and we had a couple of good chances down the other end that we probably should've scored from.

You know when Dalot missed that shot, I thought 'this is another ten Hag moment' in reference to his open goal miss at West Ham that got the Dutchman sacked!

Had that miss been costly, Amorim may as well have gotten sacked because it would've meant him losing the halftime record.

Thankfully, that didn't come to pass.

But not for his want of trying.

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Amorim started off with a back four. That first half looked good. This formation continued in the second half, for about 15 minutes.

Casemiro was then substituted to the bewilderment of...Casemiro 😱. The Brazilian had to ask the bench a couple of times if it was really him who was being taken off. We were all surprised at this change because he didn't play at Villa so had enough time off, wasn't on a booking meaning there was no risk of a second yellow and considering the way the game was going, we could've used someone with his defensive and aerial abilities not to mention his experience as most of that team were youngsters.

Baffling substitution indeed.

This then saw Amorim revert to his 3-4-3 almost as if he just couldn't let go off it for too long.

United then went ultra defensive in the hopes of trying to hold out a 1-0 win. Amorim then took off Martinez and Shaw even though there was 10 minutes (with injury time) remaining. Fredricson and a name we haven't heard in a United shirt in a long time Tyrell Malacia were brought on in their places.

Surely with such little time left you would keep these more experienced defenders on the field who were actually performing well and gave you a better chance of holding onto that lead?

To invite the pressure that early was asking for trouble.

Luckily, that hurt us in the end but the issue is that this isn't the first time where Amorim has made changes that make us question him as the United manager.

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But a win's a win. I suppose that that's all that matters even more so with all the absentees.

Christmas wasn't spoiled. United moved up into 5th (our highest position this season), we won at home for the first time since October and we kept a clean sheet. Not all things we expected to see this Boxing Day but a welcome sight all the same.

With Wolves at Old Trafford next, that gives us a very good chance of staying in this final Champions League qualification spot.

GGMU!

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Ratings

Lammens - 6.5

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Dalot - 6

Heaven - 7.5

Martinez - 7

Shaw - 6

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Ugarte - 7

Casemiro - 6.5

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Dorgu - 8 MOTM

Mount - 6

Cunha - 6.5

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Sesko - 5

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Fletcher - 6

Zirkzee - 5.5

Yoro - 5.5

Malacia - 6

Fredricson - 6

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Ruben Amorim - 6

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Patrick Dorgu scores first goal in Man Utd's 1-0 win over Newcastle | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)