‘That counts for nothing’ – Eddie Howe plays down Newcastle record vs Man United

Eddie Howe has warned his Newcastle United players that their recent dominance over Manchester United will mean little when the two sides meet at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Newcastle travel south having won five of their last six meetings with United in all competitions, including four of the last five Premier League clashes since their 2-0 defeat in the 2023 Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Despite that record, Howe insists past results will not influence his approach.

Asked whether the Wembley defeat proved a turning point for his side, Eddie Howe was emphatic that each fixture must be treated in isolation.

“I don't know,” Howe said. “That was a painful moment, but I think you just go against every opponent in an honest way.

“My process is to see the strengths and weaknesses of the team that we're playing against. You don't particularly look at the name or who you're playing — you just attack the game.”

Howe added that while Newcastle’s recent record is encouraging, it offers no guarantees.

“Our record has been good against Manchester United in recent games, but that counts for nothing in this game. It will be another independent game.”

The Newcastle boss also acknowledged signs of improvement from Manchester United, even when results have not gone their way.

“They've improved, they've been really strong in the games,” Howe said. “Even the game at Aston Villa, where they didn’t win, I thought they were really strong and produced a good performance.”

Newcastle head into the contest three points behind United in the table, having dropped points in a 2-2 home draw with Chelsea last weekend.

Despite the frustration of that draw, Howe reserved special praise for Newcastle’s record signing Nick Woltemade, who scored both goals in an eye-catching first-half display.

“I thought it was his best performance for the team on Saturday,” Howe said. “You saw his qualities returning — his linking play, dropping slightly lower to help us build through the thirds, but most importantly when the ball arrived in the box, he was there.”

Howe highlighted Woltemade’s second goal in particular.

“The second goal is an unbelievable finish. He’ll probably be frustrated he didn’t score the easier one just before half-time, but overall it was a really strong performance.”

The striker’s connection with supporters has also been noticeable.

“You can see the crowd are really happy for him and he's happy to embrace the celebrations,” Howe added.

With momentum building but margins tight, Newcastle face a significant test at Old Trafford against a United side still finding consistency.

For Howe, the message is clear: reputation and history count for little — execution on the day is everything.

Newcastle travel to Old Trafford on Boxing Day knowing victory could swing momentum in the race for European places. Howe will demand focus and discipline, with little margin for error against a United side eager to reassert themselves at home.

Can Newcastle turn recent dominance into another statement win at Old Trafford?