Newcastle United

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Newcastle United fan advisory board (FAB) have been left "disappointed" after the club announced a 5% increase in season ticket prices.

It means that a standard adult season ticket in some areas of St James' Park will cost as much as £987 when the new campaign gets under way in August.

"The FAB unanimously advised the club that there should be no increase to season ticket pricing and are disappointed the club has decided to go ahead with the increase," a spokesman said.

Premium bar seating prices are also going up by 15% while the the disability ticket discount has been halved from 50% to 25%.

The FAB were "pleased", however, that the club agreed to reconsider plans to introduce an additional range of booking fees and decided against removing certain student discounts.

Newcastle are also investing in improved big screens in the stadium and an additional £1m in audio systems, kiosk upgrades and seating in an attempt to improve the matchday experience.

While the wait continues for updates on commercial partnerships, such as a training ground sponsor or training kit sponsor, Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson stressed the club had to "balance affordability for our fans with the need to generate the revenue required to remain competitive".

In Newcastle's most recently published set of accounts, from 2023-24, the club raised £50.1m in matchday revenue.

Although there are always caveats when comparing Newcastle with teams elsewhere in the country, Manchester United made £137.1m in the same period.

"We fully understand this will not be popular news, and it is not a decision we take lightly," Hopkinson added.

"But the reality is that without making responsible increases, we cannot continue progressing or competing at the level we all expect and aspire to."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Manchester City at St James' Park (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe confirmed striker Nick Woltemade has been suffering with illness but should be fit again for the weekend and midfielder Lewis Miley "isn't too far away" but not ready for the next couple of games. He also provided an update on defender Tino Livramento, who is "getting there" but not yet training with the team.

• Despite the contrast in recent defeat by Everton and win over Manchester United, the Newcastle boss insisted the post-match process of reviewing games for improvement "never stops", but it is just the "emotions that are different".

• On what he can take away from their recent games against Manchester City to prepare for Saturday: "The games have all been close. Games we've won have been close, games lost have generally been close. We have had chances, but not been clinical enough to win those games. We need to be watertight. They are difficult to pin down in all moments. We want it to be a proper English cup tie that is end-to-end. That will suit us. Getting the crowd involved will suit us."

• Will Osula, who scored the winner midweek, has "a lot of areas to focus on and hone to continue his development" but he "has worked incredibly hard" and is getting his confidence back now after his long-term ankle injury.

• On Yoane Wissa and where different forwards are in the selection pecking order: "Every player is different. Yoane has had a tough introduction to this season and I think he is getting back to his best fitness levels. He is doing a lot of work behind the scenes and his attitude has been first class. There is no pecking order."

• On finding balance with the season that could be their best yet with the competitions they are still in, but also bleak if they exit them: "Not sure on the word bleak, but that is the world we live in with the highs and lows. Positive and negative. I can't look at things that way. We've got a cup tie with City which is a great game. One of the standout ties. We have to be positive from the Manchester United game, let's use that to attack this game and get into the next round."

• With a home tie, Howe said they have a "duty to set the tone" for the supporters, to have a positive outlook and attack in the "right way" so they get the backing they need from the St James' Park crowd.

Hit play above you hear more from Howe or listen on BBC Sounds here

Listen to full commentary of Newcastle v Manchester City on Saturday from 20:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

How to follow the FA Cup fifth round on the BBC

Got a question about Newcastle? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

Newcastle United fan Ken Riley was 14 when Newcastle sealed their third FA Cup in five seasons, beating Manchester City 3-1 at Wembley in May 1955.

In front of a crowd of 100,000, Bobby Johnstone levelled for City on the stroke of half-time after Jackie Milburn had put Newcastle ahead in the first minute of the game.

But Newcastle struck twice in the second half through Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah to seal victory in what proved to be their last major domestic trophy before the Magpies beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final in 2025.

Sharing his recollections of a memorable trip to London with BBC Radio Newcastle, Riley said his hope was high as he entered the majestic old Wembley Stadium.

"I couldn't believe how big it was and how beautiful it was," he remembered. "It was like Wimbledon turf.

"I was so used to seeing Newcastle's cup games where the ground was a quagmire. It was such a surprise to see what a lovely ground it was. I was very impressed and it was a fantastic game.

"Newcastle, in those days, were classed as a cup team.

"When I talked to people when I was younger and said I was going to Wembley, they said: 'You'll have a good game because Newcastle are cup winners.' So I did expect them to win and was very pleased that they did."

The following morning Ken went down to breakfast in the hotel he was staying in to discover the FA Cup-winning Newcastle team sitting there - with the famous trophy parked next to Magpies captain Jimmy Scoular.

"I said to my father: 'I wonder if I can get some autographs,'" Ken recalled.

"Ron Batty used to live a few doors down from me in Lobley Hill and I wasn't sure if he would know me, but I knew him so I asked him: 'Ron, can I get a few autographs?' He said: 'Why aye, have you got an autograph book? Look, take the menu and the lads will sign the back of it for you.'

"So he gave me the menu and I went round and nearly everybody that was there signed the back of this menu - the breakfast menu at the Great Northern hotel.

"I got round to where Jimmy Scoular was and he had the cup in front of him, and he said: 'Come on, son, sit here and look after this cup because I'm going to the toilet!'"

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Newcastle defender Dan Burn says the 2-1 win over Manchester United with 10 men on Wednesday night is "right up there as one of the greatest nights" at St James' Park.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle after the match, he said: "We said at half-time we could make this one of the best results we have had in the gaffer's time here.

"To a man I thought we were brilliant. We showed resilience, which I don't think we have shown as much as we would like to in previous weeks.

"We've always had that mentality of 'us against the world', the gaffer brought that in very early on. Playing under the lights at St James' Park always seems to have that little bit more bite about it.

"I've said it before, I don't know if it's just me personally or other Newcastle fans, but I don't particularly like Manchester United so it's always nice to beat them."

Listen to the full interview by clicking play above or heading over to BBC Sounds

You can also hear post-match reaction from former full-back John Anderson on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Keith: This was the best performance by Newcastle for a long time and it should motivate the team to perform in this fashion for the rest of the season.

Phil: Only a few things more satisfying than beating Man United, but a last minute winner with 10 men vs 12. This can be the momentum builder for a big end of season finish.

David: Absolutely outstanding 10 men win. Bankes has got previous several times for us, no way was that a dive by Ramsey, poetic justice in the end.

Michael: Tremendous resilience to be even level on 90 minutes. Terrible red card decision and then the equaliser in "Fergie time". Despite being one man down and the top class Ramsdale saves we were the better team in the second half and then Osula scores a worldie!! Sweeter than Apple pie.

Robert: Newcastle looked like the were hungry for the win tonight. Trippier, Linton and big Dan burn looked possessed tonight. Sending off seemed to make us want the win more. Eddie Howe is a man who is calm in everything he does and says and that keep the team together. Howay the lads.

Man Utd fans

Graham: Defeat has been coming when you look at the previous games poor individual performances and woeful passing pressing and covering leaving huge gaps for the opposition let's see how Carrick responds.

Jonathan: This was always going to happen, so in that no need to panic. However, once again showed the bench to be nowhere near good enough. Malacia and Ugarte in particular were awful. Still 4-6 players away from really competing.

John: Too much 'booting' the ball around, not enough strategic passing. Goal keeper constantly putting the ball back in play directly to a Newcastle player.

Bernard: Lacking in energy. A common complaint. Far to slow in build up and coming out of defence. Not enough running off the ball. Sharp contrast in how Newcastle players received the ball in space whilst United received the ball in tight situations.

Steven: This has been coming the last three matches no energy can't pass to one another play so slow which surprises me because Carrick has been in utd team's that play with pace we use to get the ball out quickly now it's passing from side to side and backwards even when we are behind there is just no urgency what so ever anybody would have thought we was playing with 10 and been playing in the midweek from the start of the season for me Carrick should not be the new manager at all.

Pundits Micah Richards and Danny Murphy join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from the midweek Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The boos from the crowd were deafening as Peter Bankes and the officials made their way off the field at half-time.

Even Joe Willock, who had not even come on at that point, made his feelings clear, having felt aggrieved with Ramsey's red card and the amount of stoppage time added on in the first half.

Ten-man Newcastle could have lost their composure, but you would not have known the hosts were playing with a man fewer in the second half.

Nothing quite said that like William Osula racing down the right flank, cutting inside Tyrell Malacia and letting fly with an absolute rocket to leave Howe roaring in delight on the touchline.

To describe Osula as an unlikely match-winner may seem a strange description for a forward, but he had not scored since September and failed to take his chance during a rare start against Qarabag last week.

Yet this was a night where Eddie Howe's big calls paid off - and he needed them to following a run of five defeats in six Premier League games.

As well as Osula repaying his faith, after his introduction at a crucial juncture of the game, so, too, did Aaron Ramsdale at the other end of the field on his first league start since December.

Leaky Newcastle have struggled to keep the opposition out, and were not 1-0 up for long, but the hosts limited Manchester United's in-form front line and Ramsdale was there to make a couple of big saves to ensure Howe's team did not fall behind.

This fixture has so often brought the best out of Howe's side - he will take encouragement from the spirit and resilience his team played with.

Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Newcastle's victory against Manchester United: "An amazing night. It was a great performance all the way through. 11 v 11 or 11 v 10. I thought we deserved to win.

"The main emotion was trying to work out how we'd play in that second half. We wanted to regroup. I thought Jacob Ramsey's sending off was really harsh. I don't think he's looking for a penalty there.

On Anthony Gordon: "He's turned into a very good penalty taker for us. He earned the penalty himself with a typical driving run. I think the pairing of Gordon and Elangha gave them trouble in the second half.

"We knew we wouldn't have the majority of the ball and that we'd have to defend well. There have been a lot of questions about our defending lately, so it was a good opportunity to answer those questions and we did.

"At 10 men, you know your goalkeeper is going to have saves to make. He's a top-class goalkeeper with really good experience.

On Will Osula's winner: "He did 10 shots at the end of training and he wanted more. Fair play to him. It's the desire to repeat and to practice. He's delivered an amazing moment for the supporters here. It's a great moment for him and he deserves it. Hopefully it's. turning point for him.

"A big moment for us. We've proved we're competitive against any team."

William Osula spoke to BBC Match of the Day: "I was training that yesterday in the training drill. I only had one thing on my mind, thank God it went in. I know I can take the players on and have end product.

"It was testing my pace a bit that ball in behind but I got there and happy with my end product.

"I was doing it yesterday and I was pretty consistent. It's true that habit pays off.

"It's so loud in this stadium, St James' Park. It's the best fanbase in the world. It's top."

Hear more from Howe on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

William Osula became the eighth Newcastle player to score a 90th minute Premier League winning goal as a substitute, and the first in the Premier League for any club to do so against Manchester United.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Manchester United's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Aaron Ramsdale starts as Newcastle United make two changes for the visit of Manchester United.

The goalkeeper replaces Nick Pope in the starting line-up after his team-mate's made a costly error in the 3-2 defeat against Everton at the weekend.

Harvey Barnes also comes into the side in place of club-record signing Nick Woltemade, who misses out with a sickness bug.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot at right-back for Manchester United as Michael Carrick makes one change to his starting line-up from Sunday's win over Crystal Palace.

It is the Moroccan's first start since December, when he went on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire have recovered from the illness that forced them off against Palace. Dalot is on the bench where he is joined by 18-year-old defender Godwill Kukonki.

Manchester Utd XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, T Fletcher, Moorhouse.

There are five games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Brighton v Arsenal - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v West Ham

• Manchester City v Nottingham Forest -BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Newcastle v Manchester United (20:15) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Arsenal" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man Utd", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Carrick's love of the game was quickly apparent when he was profiled on the BBC's Saturday morning children's television show Live & Kicking in 1995.

Seated in front of the camera in a Newcastle shirt and surrounded by posters of his idols, including Peter Beardsley, viewers might have felt he was destined to one day represent his boyhood club.

Newcastle had even attempted to pull out one or two stops to convince Carrick to join.

Beardsley presented Carrick with a cake on his 13th birthday at St James' Park while the youngster was invited to play in the prestigious Milk Cup youth tournament a year early.

However, that trip to Northern Ireland left a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons after a few of the players 'borrowed' a Mini and drove it around a car park.

Carrick ultimately felt more comfortable at West Ham - a long way from home - after spending time touring a host of suitors across the country.

Although local talents like Lee Clark, Steve Howey, Steve Watson and Robbie Elliott had made the breakthrough into Newcastle's first-team squad, at the time the club did not even have a reserve side.

By contrast, at West Ham, there was a clear pathway - and Carrick never looked back.

This future England international went on to play for the Hammers and Tottenham Hotspur before joining Manchester United, where he won 18 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on where you would be playing Nick Woltemade to get the best out of him/ Or do you think the team works better without him?

Here are some of your comments:

Jill: Woltemade played better from midfield than up front. When he plays up front it is like playing with 10 men as he contributes so little he may as well not be on the pitch. I was happy for him that trying him in midfield did make for a greater contribution from him. He was good at nicking the ball off the opposition and putting in a well-placed pass on occasion. But to be honest, I think the team is stronger without him I'm sad to say. He is very slow and lumbering with no speed over the first few yards. He does have some nifty footwork but he doesn't get on the ball often enough. What we desperately need right now is a goal scorer and unfortunately he isn't it.

Darren: Best wishes to him as he seems like a nice guy but sell him while he still has value. He was bought as a nine but plays as a 10 and can't make the distance on a break. He's been found out. I'd like to think he could work with an out-and-out striker, but he don't have one. Wissa is done.

Drew: Woltemade in midfield just shows how much Eddie is panicking. He is throwing all sorts of weird and daft ideas around to try and make something stick....the lad clearly needs to be up front. Anyone blaming Woltemade for the mismanagement of the team at the minute needs to give their head a shake.

Richard: If you think that you can just tell a player to change his position and it'll somehow just work immediately then you don't get elite sport at Premier League level. Nick Woltemade will develop a role where his skills are maximised and Eddie Howe is just the coach to do it. OK, it probably won't be this season but he will come good. His position will be developed with the rest of the squad because you don't play on your own. I'd guess it'll be in the pocket behind a striker but ahead of midfield. He's a raw talent and he will be developing fast under Eddie and his team.

Phil: He looked like a striker when he signed, and plays there for Germany. I think maybe rest him and give him some training time and put him back up front and help rebuild his confidence.

Raymond: It's not his fault it's the people at Newcastle who sealed the deal. His agent must be laughing all he way to the bank. I've been watching Newcastle since 1963 and have seen some great players with hearts of a lion. They have wasted the money on three offensive players. So sad for the supporters.

Dale: Woltemade is a clear number 10, he's got a quality first touch and he needs time to get used too the Premier League and I am happy to give him that time.

Jim: The team are better without him. Unfortunately he got to Newcastle late in the transfer window and he he did not get the chance to do the pre-season training with the team. It makes a huge difference to the way they work together and understand each others game. The same as Wissa.

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United may have progressed into the knockout stages in Europe but their league form has fallen off a cliff as they prepare for Wednesday night's (20:15 GMT) clash with a Manchester United side who are unbeaten in 11 top-flight games.

The Magpies have lost five of their last six in the Premier League, including each of their last three at St James' Park – the first time that's happened since February 2021 under Steve Bruce.

Magpies flapping

Over the last six games, Newcastle are second-bottom of the form table, earning fewer points than the three clubs in the relegation zone. Only crisis-hit Tottenham Hotspur have fared worse in that timeframe.

It's a dip that's seen them drop from ninth to 13th in the table ahead of a busy March schedule that includes an FA Cup fifth round meeting with Manchester City and both legs of the Champions League last 16 tie with La Liga frontrunners Barcelona.

Head coach Eddie Howe has struggled to find the right balance in attack in recent weeks, with club record signing Nick Woltemade playing in a deeper role and Anthony Gordon struggling to replicate his excellent European form on the domestic front.

Last week's 3-2 defeat by Everton was the second game in a row in which Woltemade failed to register a touch in the opposition box, sparking a debate about how best to use the 6ft 5in Germany international forward.

One crumb of comfort for the Toon Army is their side's recent record in this exact fixture. Newcastle have come out on top in their last three home league games against the Red Devils, as many as they won in their previous 18.

Carrick back at his boyhood club

Michael Carrick may have grown up supporting Newcastle United, but his colours are now firmly nailed to the mast at Old Trafford.

Sunday's win over Crystal Palace means the Manchester United head coach is unbeaten in nine Premier League games across two spells, equalling the best start by a boss in the competition's history.

Ange Postecoglou's reign at Spurs began with 26 points from 10 games, which Carrick could match with victory in the North East on Wednesday.

Six wins from seven since taking charge again in January have lifted the Reds to third in the table at the end of a matchweek for the first time since May 2023 and Champions League football looks a realistic prospect once again.

Benajmin Sesko's contributions off the bench earned him a start against Palace and he duly rewarded Carrick with a fine header to win the game. Seven goals in his last eight appearances mean no Premier League player has scored more in domestic competitions since the turn of the year.

It was Bruno Fernandes who provided the cross for Sesko's winner against the Eagles; the Portuguese playmaker's 13th league assist of the season. The United captain is closing in on David Beckham's club record of 15 assists in the 1999-00 league season.

That comeback victory over Palace means the Red Devils have recovered nine points from losing positions in 2026, more than any other side. They have only lost one of the last eight league matches in which they have fallen behind (won three, drawn four), having lost 10 of their previous 13 when trailing (drawing three).

Newcastle United's inconsistency struck again in Saturday's home defeat by Everton, and who knows which team will turn up here.

Manchester United were not great against Crystal Palace either, when they needed a penalty and Maxence Lacroix's red card to really change the game, but they still found a way to win it.

Benjamin Sesko suddenly looks like a handful for Michael Carrick's side - he is big and physical and scored a brilliant header against Palace - so Newcastle will have to deal with him.

It is hard to call this one but there have been so many great games between these two sides down the years, and this could be another classic.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says Nick Woltemade looked "bereft of confidence and belief" during Saturday's defeat against Everton - which is "understandable", given that the German is not consistently playing in one position at the moment in Eddie Howe's side.

"Where do you play him?" Anderson added. "He is not an out-and-out nine and I'm not too sure he is a 10 either. He has played that left side of midfield as well.

"There is one or two dilemmas for the manager - and it's not like he has too much time to get players on the training ground and work at it."

If you were in Howe's shoes, where would you be playing Woltemade to get the best out of him? Or do you think the team works better without him?

Tell us here

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The world as we know it seems split down the middle. Howe in or Howe out?

Unfortunately, the delineation between the two seems to have taken on the names "happy clappers" or "bedwetters". Neither moniker is particularly appetising to me, on account of my being a grown adult.

Once again, Newcastle lost in the league this weekend. Once again, Newcastle failed to keep a clean sheet. The run of form we're on hasn't been this bad since 2021 under Steve Bruce. A horrible fact to have to contemplate, but a fact nonetheless. It does not dampen one's bed to acknowledge that.

The season from a league perspective is largely finished, I think. I've been happily clapping my team but my hands are sore and we keep losing games. We may yet make something of the FA Cup, though we have to beat Manchester City this weekend to do so.

Still, we've done that once at home this season, so it's not impossible. If we do, I assume we'll somehow draw the Spanish national team in the next round.

We also remain in the Champions League. But the fatigue and the injuries and the lack of creativity on the pitch points to a bigger problem.

Can Eddie Howe solve it? It might be bigger than him now. I've had a lot of faith in him - he has earned it - but perhaps it's time to refresh everything.

I'd like to see it work, and maybe it still can, but it feels like the chance is slipping away.

I think I can eke out another week on the fence, and let the performances on the pitch speak to me. Fingers crossed.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external