Wayne Rooney demands Manchester United balance after 3-3 draw at Newcastle

Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren feels his side and opponents Manchester United answered their recent critics in the thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw at St James’ Park.

The result means United has only won one of its last eight in the Premier League and drops down to sixth in the table.

First-half goals from Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard put them in charge and after Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic had cancelled out their advantage, Rooney struck again 11 minutes from time.

At least Louis Van Gaal was not bored as his men led 2-0 then Newcastle clawed their way back into it before Wayne Rooney scored with a stunning drive, a strike that even brought a smile to his manager’s face which quickly changed with left-back Dummett’s 90th minute strike.

The point earned is not enough to lift Newcastle out of the bottom three – they remain a point and place behind 17th-placed Swansea – but it represents another notable improvement following three successive 1-0 league defeats.

Van Gaal, though, told BT Sport: “I have seen it. When you want to avoid a header of Fellaini by [putting] your hands to the ball I don’t think that is a discussion”.

McClaren said: “The crowd responded magnificently and we wanted to show everyone what we are about”.

Van Gaal, who could be seen incandescent on the touchline at times, said his players only had themselves to blame for caving under the pressure from the home side. “We have to keep trying to get that balance right and keep creating chances, scoring goals and keeping them out”, the England global added.

“You can’t underestimate what a monumental effort it is to come back from 2-0 and 3-2”.

“We threw it away”, he muttered. “To go and watch Manchester United, whether it’s home or away, is entertainment, it’s goals – whether you concede goals or whether you can score goals”.

United have been labelled “boring” by pundits and fans following the majority of games this season but the performance against Newcastle was anything but tiresome.

“I’m not sure if he’s got something to prove, but he’s got a lot to fight for”.

McClaren believed that both teams had answered their critics – United for their supposed lack of adventure and his own side for their alleged lack of fighting spirit. We are always trying to play attacking football and sometimes it’s hard to do so.