The 2025/26 Premier League Boxing Day headline clash took place at Old Trafford, though the flow of the match was relatively subdued. Manchester United hosted Newcastle United and secured a narrow 1–0 victory.
With this win, Manchester United further cemented its dominance on Boxing Day in the Premier League. Since the league’s inception in the 1992/93 season, United have now amassed 23 Boxing Day victories.
By contrast, Newcastle suffered their 18th defeat in this festive fixture, making them the team with the most Boxing Day losses.
Winning Without Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu Emerges as the Unexpected Hero
The match carried special significance for Manchester United. Team captain Bruno Fernandes was ruled out through injury, leaving the midfield without its key orchestrator. Despite his absence, United did not lose its composure and instead played with greater discipline and patience.
The decisive moment arrived in the 24th minute. United created danger from a throw-in, and although Newcastle cleared the first ball, their defensive organisation broke down in the penalty area. Unmarked defender Dorgu met the loose ball with a superb first-time volley to open the scoring for the hosts.
It proved to be the match’s only goal and marked a long-awaited breakthrough for Dorgu, his first since joining Manchester United in February.
The 21-year-old Danish prospect has also registered two assists in the Premier League this season and is steadily establishing himself within the squad.
Newcastle Dominates Possession but Fails to Convert
After falling behind, Newcastle pushed forward aggressively. They enjoyed 66% possession and attempted 16 shots, yet only two were on target.
In the 62nd minute, Dewsbury-Hall struck the post with a long-range effort, one of the visitors’ few genuinely threatening moments.
Manchester United, meanwhile, showed rare defensive solidity. They withstood sustained pressure and preserved the clean sheet.
This was only their second shutout of the Premier League season and brought an end to a run of 10 consecutive league matches in which they had conceded.
Post-Match Reactions from Amorim and Dorgu
After the final whistle, United head coach Ruben Amorim expressed his satisfaction with the result: “This was a good win. I’ve been involved in many matches here where we played well but didn’t get the three points. Today it was the opposite. We needed this kind of result.”
Goalscorer Dorgu also spoke of his gratitude for the manager’s trust and encouragement before the match: “That strike was really good, even I didn’t expect myself to pull it off like that. I’m very happy to score my first goal for Manchester United at this stadium.”
On a cold Boxing Day at Old Trafford, Manchester United delivered a victory that may not have been spectacular. Still, it was efficient and valuable, warming the hearts of their supporters and providing a timely boost of confidence heading into the second half of the season.
