Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle's game in hand came to nought and their winning run came to an end at Old Trafford against the 13th placed Mancunians. They only had themselves to blame as they dominated the game against their injury-hit opponents, but "frittered away their chances".
"Gallagher did little except shoot badly" and was guilty of missing two open goals. Seymour missed another sitter and Urwin crashed a shot against the bar.
In the first half the homesters had the help of a stiff easterly wind and opened the scoring after only five minutes. Wilson rushed out to try and intercept a pass but slipped and left Spencer with an open goal.
McDonald converted a McKay centre ten minutes later to equalise. From then on United dominated but the forward line "left something to be desired. The ease with which Gallagher was flouted was amazing".
Two goals in five second half minutes from Harris [70] and Hanson [75] gave the home side an unexpected victory.
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - Loughlin, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle lost two games on the trot for the first time since the opening weeks but luckily Burnley and Sunderland also lost so they retained top spot; Huddersfield moved into second.
United got off to a bad start - going behind after only three minutes - and they were "ragged both in temper and play for a time", but they equalised through Seymour converting a Gallagher cross eight minutes later.
Whereas the first half had been even the second half belonged to United; at least in terms of possession. Unfortunately despite trying a number of formations upfront they could not break through; although a post denied Gallagher and they had two decent penalty "shouts". The Blades punished them by scoring the winner thirteen minutes from time.
Once again United had lost to an inferior team and doubts were being cast over United's ability to play against teams with less skill but extra "dash"
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Clark, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
A third successive defeat in the Cup, Gallagher on international duty, knocked off top spot and a difficult trip to 6th place Liverpool. The pressure was mounting. But The Magpies responded with a gutsy performance and an overdue return to form
Despite playing into a stiff breeze they made a great start, Seymour heading in an Urwin cross after only three minutes. The Scousers equalised [28] when "Reid dashed in to literally head it in from the custodian's hands into the net". Half time equality was a fair reflection of the match with Liverpool matching United's "football craft" with "dash in abundance".
Both sides enjoyed spells of pressure in the second half, but United got the only goal with the same Urwin-Seymour combination. Liverpool came close on a number of occasions and during one attack "there was a Rugby scrum on United's goal line, with half a dozen players concerned." Luckily the referee blew for a free kick "to the oppressed side".
Huddersfield were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at home by (21st place) Everton and allowed United to regain top spot on goal difference; Sunderland were two points behind.