Joe Willock's first goal since November and a late Callum Wilson header moved Newcastle United into the Champions League spots on Sunday as they beat top-four rivals Manchester United 2-0.

Knowing a win at St James' Park would leapfrog the Magpies above the Red Devils and into third, it appeared Newcastle's luck was out as they saw countless chances come and go.

But Willock's close-range header finally put Eddie Howe's side ahead, before Wilson nodded in Kieran Trippier's free-kick to secure a magnificent win that takes them into the Champions League places.

Erik ten Hag's men see their own top-four hopes dented as they drop to fourth, just a point above Tottenham, though they do have a game in hand over the Londoners.

A lively opening saw Wout Weghorst lash into the side netting before David de Gea made a brilliant stop to deny Alexander Isak's header and then Willock's effort from the rebound.

The visitors were on the ropes and forced to spend much of the first half defending, with Sean Longstaff sending a powerful drive whistling past the upright before Willock blazed over from close range.

Ten Hag's men survived until the interval, and Fabian Schar fired an effort from distance just wide after the break as Newcastle continued to press.

The Red Devils' resistance was finally broken in the 65th minute, Allan Saint-Maximin nodding Bruno Guimaraes' delivery back across to Willock, who headed in from close range to send the home fans into raptures.

Joelinton then saw a close-range effort tipped onto the crossbar by De Gea from a corner, but Wilson sealed the victory when he nodded home Trippier's free-kick in the 88th minute to secure three precious points in the Magpies' bid for European football.

What does it mean? Ten Hag's men well off the pace

In such a vital game, the Red Devils were far from their brilliant best as the Magpies picked up three huge and fully deserved points.

It took until the 56th minute for the visitors to record their first and only shot on target of the contest, with Howe's side managing six in comparison while the hosts accumulated 3.57 xG (expected goals) to their opponents' 0.43.

Scintillating Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin can frustrate with his lack of end product at times, but he showed little sign of that here with a sublime creative display to propel his team to victory.

The winger created six chances and had nine touches in the opposition box, both more than any other player on the pitch as he proved a constant menace for the visitors' defence, also providing a rare headed assist for Willock.

Ineffective Weghorst

Weghorst's wait for a first Premier League goal goes on since joining on loan from Burnley in January, and the Dutch striker struggled to make much of an impact at all in this outing.

He managed just 10 touches, the lowest of the 22 starters from both teams, and failed to hit the target with his only shot as the Red Devils badly lacked a focal point up top.

Key Opta facts

- Newcastle have beaten Manchester United in the Premier League for the first time since October 2019, having failed to win their previous six matches in this fixture (D2 L4).
- United have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games for a seventh time, and for the first time since February 2020.
- Of Willock's last nine league goals for Newcastle, five have been the game's opening goal, with the Magpies going on to win in each of those five matches.
- Trippier has assisted five goals from set pieces this season in the Premier League, the most of any player.
- United have lost four of their eight Premier League games without Casemiro this season, compared to three of 19 when he has played.

What's next?

Both teams are in Premier League action again on Wednesday, when Ten Hag's men will host Brentford while the Magpies travel to West Ham.