MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
MAN UTD
1. David De Gea
4. Phil Jones
33. Paddy McNair
6. Jonny Evans
16. Michael Carrick 62'
25. Antonio Valencia 80'
8. Juan Mata
10. Wayne Rooney
18. Ashley Young
20. Robin van Persie
9. Falcao 65'
Subs
2. Rafael 80'
12. Chris Smalling
13. Anders Lindegaard
24. Darren Fletcher 62'
42. Tyler Blackett
44. Andreas Pereira
49. James Wilson 65'
NEWCASTLE UTD
31. Jak Alnwick
22. Daryl Janmaat
27. Steven Taylor
2. Fabricio Coloccini
36. Paul Dummett 63'
8. Vurnon Anita
14. Jack Colback
11. Yoan Gouffran
7. Moussa Sissoko
32. Adam Armstrong 63'
17. Ayoze Perez 82'
Subs
6. Mike Williamson
9. Papiss Cisse 63'
20. Remy Cabella 63'
23. Haris Vuckic 82'
29. Emmanuel Riviere
37. Lubomir Satka
41. Freddie Woodman
We suffered the dreaded return of Vurnon Anita to the starting line-up, and that alone is the value of a goal against (at least).
Then we had the 17-year old Adam Armstrong making his full debut, the youngest NUFC player to start a game in the Premier League, in a game that could give him nightmares ... Man Utd at Old Trafford!
We won here last year for the first time since 1972 and the first game following the Hereford FA Cup humiliation and the infamous Ronnie Radford goal.
But last season we had a trio of French world class individuals - Yohan Cabaye, Loic Remy and Mathieu Debuchy - that would have probably been good enough to get into the Man Utd starting line-up.
This year I don't think anyone other than Colo would get into the Man Utd squad, never mind the team.
Wayne Rooney scored twice (as he usually does) and set up another goal as the Mancs swatted Alan Pardew's team aside with an easy 3-1 win at Old Trafford.
Rooney finished a superb team goal to put United ahead and scored again before the break following a lovely through-ball from Juan Mata.
The United skipper helped kill off the game by pinging a 35-yard pass to Robin van Persie, who headed past Jak Alnwick, before Papiss Cisse scored a late consolation for the Magpies from the penalty spot.
Louis van Gaal's decision to cancel Christmas Day training did not backfire. His side were the best team for most of the match.
Radamel Falcao had one of his best performances in a United shirt up front while Mata was a constant threat, threading dangerous passes through Newcastle's stretched, unorganised defence.
But it was Rooney, playing in a midfield role once again, who stole the show.
Some felt Van Gaal's decision to drop Rooney deeper was a mistake, but he has excelled there so far.
Against Newcastle he dictated the pace of the game along with Mata and Michael Carrick and the timing of his runs for both goals was superb.
It must be said that Newcastle helped ease United's path to victory.
The defending for all three goals was sloppy from Alan Pardew's men, who have now lost four matches in a row.
United, on the other hand, remain in third position in the Barclays Premier League - 10 points behind leaders Chelsea - thanks to their seventh win in eight matches.
After a day off eating Christmas dinner with their families, it took a while for United's players to get going on a chilly Boxing Day afternoon at Old Trafford.
Newcastle created the best chances early on. Ayoze Perez beat two United players, but he tried to slip by a third when he should have squared to 17-year-old debutant Adam Armstrong, who had left his marker at the back post.
In the 14th minute, Newcastle were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty. Pardew flung his arms in the air and ranted at fourth official Robert Madley after Mata clipped Yoan Gouffran's heels as he entered the box, but referee Michael Jones waved play on.
United finally sparked into life when Rooney found Van Persie, with a pin-point pass, but Alnwick raced off his line and forced the Dutchman wide.
Not for the first time this season, David de Gea then saved United with an acrobatic dive to deny Daryl Janmaat, who had surged forward from the back.
Despite the pressure from Newcastle, the hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute with an impressive team goal.
Rooney started the move, laying the ball off to Mata, who chipped towards the back post after the Newcastle defence backed off. Falcao hooked the ball back across the box and Rooney tapped in from close range.
Newcastle were rattled. The Stretford End demanded United attack and they did with style.
Ashley Young brushed past two defenders and swung the ball over Falcao, but his downward header sneaked wide before Rooney made it 2-0 eight minutes before half-time.
Mata again played a key role, sliding the ball through the away defence to the England captain, who tapped in past Alnwick.
Van Gaal rose to his feet and punched the air.
Eight minutes after the break, the United boss was applauding his team's third goal of the afternoon.
Rooney, again given time by Newcastle, looked up and floated a 35-yard pass over the away defence to find Van Persie, who nodded past Alnwick.
With the result now beyond doubt, Van Gaal removed Carrick and Falcao for Darren Fletcher and James Wilson.
Rooney remained on the pitch, looking for his first United hat-trick since August 2011. The United skipper came very close on the hour when he whipped a 20-yard free-kick just over Alnwick's cross bar.
With a game coming up against Tottenham on Sunday, United sensibly took their foot off the accelerator, but Fletcher made a mistake, allowing Ayoze into the box. Again, De Gea came to the rescue with a save at his near post.
The Spaniard could do nothing about Newcastle's 87th-minute consolation, though.
Phil Jones tripped Jack Colback as he entered the box and Cisse slotted the penalty perfectly into the top right-hand corner.
It did not matter, though. The game had been won long ago.