Zirkzee was terrible, but three other Man Utd players lucky not to be hooked in 32nd minute too

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A truly awful 32 minutes of football from Manchester United left Ruben Amorim with no other choice. He had to make a change.

2-0 down and trailing to Newcastle, Manchester United were fortunate not to be down by double that amount. The Red Devils were being overrun and outplayed, and looked totally lost.

Ruben Amorim could not let it continue. Cheers went up from the crowd at Old Trafford when the head coach signaled his intent to make a substitution.

Joshua Zirkzee was the player taken off, justifiably so, with Kobbie Mainoo brought on in his place.

Zirkzee deserved to come off

Joshua Zirkzee cannot have any complaints about his own performance, he completed just three of nine pass attempts, and looked lost in his new role, playing behind Rasmus Hojlund.

He headed straight down the tunnel, clearly frustrated. It will have felt like he was a sacrificial lamb, with the whole team’s failings being pinned on him.

The Dutchman’s substitution saw an immediate uptick in performance from Manchester United. While defeat could not be avoided, the loss was not the total embarrassment it was shaping up to be.

Three more players lucky not to be sacrificed

Joshua Zirkzee could quite easily have been joined by three other Manchester United players, had Amorim been even more ruthless. Or alternatively, any of this trio could have been the sacrificial lamb instead of Zirkzee.

Casemiro: This was the first defeat Casemiro had suffered in eight games as a starter for United. It was not one of his better games. He wasted a clear-cut chance just before half-time – perhaps if he had been off the pitch, somebody else would have been on to score it. His limitations as a player are shown up when he is alongside Christian Eriksen.

Christian Eriksen: Gary Neville told Sky’s commentary that he never wants to see Casemiro and Christian Eriksen starting together again, and he’s not alone in that. This was the partnership overrun in the 4-0 loss at Palace earlier this year. And make no mistake, this game was heading the same way. Eriksen lacks mobility and fight, and is too easily overrun by more physical opponents.

Lisandro Martinez: Wearing the captain’s armband, Lisandro Martinez had a poor game at the back, with Joelinton all over him for Newcastle’s second goal. The Argentine’s form has looked shaky all month, and he is losing some of the faith from supporters. With Leny Yoro among the substitutes, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Amorim made an even bigger statement by taking the defender off at the half hour mark too.