Carrick's post-match anger as he ignores Manchester United players! Another injury adds to the woes, with a wrong substitution leading to defeat.

Thirty years ago, United's "King" Eric Cantona struck a match-winning volley at St James' Park, helping Sir Alex Ferguson's team to a narrow 1-0 victory and an incredible comeback from a 12-point gap to win the league. Now, at the same goal in Tyneside, the Red Devils were beaten 1-2 by a similar strike from Newcastle youngster Will Osula, even though they had a numerical advantage.

Since December 2018, Manchester United have not won against Newcastle in front of fans, nor have they scored first—both records will extend into next season. Carrick was deeply unhappy, as this was his team's poorest performance under his management, not just in result but also in process.

Carrick has never been so furious on the bench. After the final whistle, he shook hands with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, acknowledged the away fans, and then headed straight down the tunnel without acknowledging any United player—unlike his usual post-match routine of embracing and talking with his squad. For a coach known for his calm demeanor, this was the clearest display of his anger. British media joked that Carrick might follow in Sir Alex's footsteps by unleashing the "hairdryer treatment" in the dressing room.

The fragility of United's squad was also laid bare. Right-back Noussair Mazraoui made his first start since last December, but his injury timing proved costly. By then, Carrick had already substituted Luke Shaw for Diogo Dalot, leaving only one full-back on the bench—Dutchman Tyrell Malacia.

This was Malacia's second substitute appearance this season, interestingly, with his previous one also coming against Newcastle at home. Malacia is set to be released in the summer, and his performance after replacing Mazraoui justified that decision. When Osula drove toward United's box, Malacia was completely outpaced and couldn't even witness the goal, as he had his back turned when the Newcastle youngster shot!

Malacia neither defended nor committed a foul, though he could have reached Osula and at least made a tactical foul to halt the attack. Center-back Harry Maguire tried to close down, but his pace wasn't enough to intervene.

United dropping points twice in two months during periods of two games per week highlights the squad's lack of depth. With only 40 matches this season, the current roster is barely adequate. Significant reinforcements are needed this summer; otherwise, even a return to the Champions League would be a struggle.

Carrick was clearly unhappy with the team's mentality as well. They grew complacent in a comfortable once-a-week rhythm and let their guard down after seeing the opponent reduced to ten men. Carrick himself may have been too cautious; with an extra player, he could have been bolder, introducing young midfield substitutes like Tyler Fletcher or Godwell Kukonki, the latter capable of playing center-back or left-back.

United could even have switched to a back three by bringing on Eden Haven, with Portuguese international Dalot capable of playing as a winger. When Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side overturned Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the Champions League, it was Dalot—playing on the right wing—whose long-range shot earned a crucial penalty, with Carrick serving as assistant coach at the time.

But Carrick opted for a like-for-like substitution, perhaps content with a draw, only to suffer a last-gasp defeat. St James' Park seems to test United's resolve too severely, exposing their weaknesses, as United have now lost four consecutive matches at Newcastle.

Carrick stated: "Yes, I'm very unhappy with tonight's performance. For most of the game, I felt we were in control, but Newcastle were better and deserve credit for their attitude. We knew it would be tough and tried to adjust to push for victory, but unfortunately we couldn't manage it. Yes, we are bitterly disappointed."

However, Carrick refused to publicly criticize the team's mentality. "The issue was the level of performance, not the team's character, desire to win, or anything else. It's easy to label things after a loss, especially when you're defeated. Newcastle deserved the win tonight, and it hurts to say that, but it's the truth. We need to get back to training and aim to do better in the next game. There are many lessons from this match, and we must learn them together as a team. We have plenty of time to analyze the result and keep improving."

United will have 11 days to prepare for their next crucial top-four clash at home against Aston Villa. Carrick insisted the loss won't change their preparation. "The team has to pick themselves up, train hard, and do what we did when we were winning—we can do that. We are a good team with many good players; tonight just wasn't our night," Carrick said. "Preparing for Villa will follow the same weekly routine. Of course, results affect the mood, that's natural, but we must learn from it and become better. We've received a lot of praise lately, and the players deserve it. Tonight we're disappointed, but that won't change our approach to the next game. Everything is still to play for, and we'll use this week to train hard, learn our lessons, and look forward to the next match."

Fortunately, United's Premier League position didn't worsen, as losses for Liverpool and Aston Villa meant this defeat had limited impact. However, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, watching from the stands, didn't look pleased either.