Last updated on .From the section Premier League

Ronaldo scored before and after half time for Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return to Manchester United as the hosts eventually cruised to victory against Newcastle United and delighted a packed Old Trafford.

Cheered from the moment he left the team coach on its arrival at the ground, throughout the warm-up and then once the game had started, Ronaldo repaid the backing in the best possible manner.

Twelve years after he last scored for Manchester United in this stadium, Ronaldo broke the deadlock in first-half added time when he tapped in after visiting keeper Freddie Woodman spilled Mason Greenwood's shot.

Then, after Javier Manquillo had levelled with his first Newcastle goal, Ronaldo finished off a flowing move by racing on to Luke Shaw's through ball and drilling a low shot through Woodman's legs.

His international team-mate Bruno Fernandes rifled in the goal of the game as he collected Paul Pogba's square pass and curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area before substitute Jesse Lingard added a fourth in added time.

The margin of victory was harsh on Steve Bruce's men, who played well for long periods. But Newcastle's efforts were irrelevant to the ecstatic home fans, who had the added bonus of their side returning to the top of the Premier League.

Significant day at Old Trafford

You only had to look in the directors' box to understand this was a special day for the hosts.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who has not been seen since the Super League debacle, and co-chairman Avram Glazer, who was making his first Old Trafford visit in two years, were both present.

Glazer and Woodward both played central roles in Ronaldo's return to the club from Juventus.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson was arguably even more significant in the move, ringing the Portuguese to implore him to return to the club where he is still feted as a hero, rather than accept an offer from Manchester City.

Ronaldo proved he still has much to offer at the age of 36, and that the efforts to entice him back to the club were worthwhile.

His opener showed the value of anticipation, as he followed Greenwood's shot in when the Newcastle defenders hesitated.

The second emphasised that Ronaldo retains enough speed to cause problems for defences as he charged clear to take his overall Manchester United tally to 120.

There was, however, to be no repeat of the hat-trick he scored on his last appearance against Newcastle at Old Trafford in January 2008.

Nevertheless, with Fernandes delivering the kind of goal that has earned him hero status at the club and Lingard giving a reminder of the ability he showed on loan at West Ham, it was a victory that went beyond the contribution of a single individual - even if Ronaldo's name will dominate the aftermath.

Newcastle hope extinguished

Ronaldo's momentous goal must have felt like a kick in the guts for former Old Trafford captain Bruce.

Newcastle's record at the ground is terrible and the build-up to this game pitched them in the role of spoilsports, trying to wreck a party that had been building up all week.

Through a combination of disciplined defending, what could be kindly described as 'time management' - which irritated the home fans immensely - and incisive counter-attacks, Newcastle were excellent.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock all got themselves in a position to threaten David de Gea's goal without managing to beat the home keeper.

Ronaldo's goal with the half time break beckoning ruined all that good work, and it was so preventable too.

Isaac Hayden was standing next to the Portuguese when Greenwood took aim but, unlike Ronaldo, he didn't gamble on the outcome and was not in position to challenge when Woodman made his mistake.

To their credit, Newcastle renewed their efforts after half-time and for a brief time after they had capitalised on a Harry Maguire error to convert a superb counter-attack - which ended with Saint-Maximin prodding a ball through for Manquillo's second goal in English football - a second Old Trafford win since 1972 seemed possible.

That hope evaporated as Ronaldo returned to centre stage, leaving the visiting fans to renew their chants demanding change at the top of their club.

Player of the match Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo with an average of 7.57 Man Utd Manchester United Manchester United

Newcastle Newcastle United Newcastle United Manchester United Avg Squad number 7 Player name Cristiano Ronaldo Average rating 7.57 Squad number 14 Player name Lingard Average rating 7.27 Squad number 18 Player name Bruno Fernandes Average rating 7.01 Squad number 23 Player name Shaw Average rating 6.75 Squad number 34 Player name van de Beek Average rating 6.67 Squad number 11 Player name Greenwood Average rating 6.58 Squad number 19 Player name Varane Average rating 6.49 Squad number 6 Player name Pogba Average rating 6.48 Squad number 25 Player name Sancho Average rating 6.36 Squad number 5 Player name Maguire Average rating 6.17 Squad number 29 Player name Wan-Bissaka Average rating 6.08 Squad number 1 Player name de Gea Average rating 6.07 Squad number 31 Player name Matic Average rating 5.90 Squad number 9 Player name Martial Average rating 5.84 Newcastle United Avg Squad number 10 Player name Saint-Maximin Average rating 6.61 Squad number 24 Player name Almirón Average rating 6.08 Squad number 28 Player name Willock Average rating 6.05 Squad number 19 Player name Manquillo Average rating 6.01 Squad number 36 Player name S Longstaff Average rating 5.82 Squad number 11 Player name Ritchie Average rating 5.77 Squad number 2 Player name Clark Average rating 5.74 Squad number 6 Player name Lascelles Average rating 5.72 Squad number 7 Player name Joelinton Average rating 5.72 Squad number 14 Player name Hayden Average rating 5.69 Squad number 27 Player name Woodman Average rating 5.42 Squad number 23 Player name Murphy Average rating 5.14 Squad number 12 Player name Lewis Average rating 4.99 Squad number 16 Player name Hendrick Average rating 4.71

Line-ups

Match Stats

Live Text Line-ups Man Utd Formation 4-2-3-1 1 de Gea 29 Wan-Bissaka 19 Varane 5 Maguire 23 Shaw 6 Pogba 31 Matic 11 Greenwood 18 Bruno Fernandes 25 Sancho 7 Cristiano Ronaldo 1 de Gea

29 Wan-Bissaka

19 Varane

5 Maguire

23 Shaw

6 Pogba Booked at 60mins

31 Matic

11 Greenwood Substituted for van de Beek at 85' minutes

18 Bruno Fernandes Substituted for Martial at 85' minutes

25 Sancho Substituted for Lingard at 66' minutes

7 Cristiano Ronaldo Substitutes 2 Lindelöf

3 Bailly

8 Mata

9 Martial

14 Lingard

17 Fred

20 Dalot

22 Heaton

34 van de Beek Newcastle Formation 5-3-2 27 Woodman 19 Manquillo 14 Hayden 6 Lascelles 2 Clark 11 Ritchie 24 Almirón 28 Willock 36 S Longstaff 7 Joelinton 10 Saint-Maximin 27 Woodman

19 Manquillo Substituted for Murphy at 77' minutes

14 Hayden

6 Lascelles

2 Clark Substituted for Lewis at 84' minutes

11 Ritchie

24 Almirón

28 Willock Substituted for Hendrick at 85' minutes

36 S Longstaff

7 Joelinton

10 Saint-Maximin Substitutes 5 Schär

12 Lewis

16 Hendrick

17 Krafth

18 Fernández

23 Murphy

26 Darlow

34 Gayle

56 White Referee: Anthony Taylor Attendance: 72,732 Match Stats Live Text Post update Match ends, Manchester United 4, Newcastle United 1. Full Time Second Half ends, Manchester United 4, Newcastle United 1. goal Goal! Goal! Manchester United 4, Newcastle United 1. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba. Post update Attempt missed. Joelinton (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Allan Saint-Maximin with a cross. Post update Foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United). Post update Joelinton (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution Substitution, Newcastle United. Jeff Hendrick replaces Joseph Willock. Substitution Substitution, Manchester United. Donny van de Beek replaces Mason Greenwood. Substitution Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Martial replaces Bruno Fernandes. Substitution Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamal Lewis replaces Ciaran Clark. Post update Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United). Post update Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Post update Offside, Newcastle United. Matt Ritchie tries a through ball, but Allan Saint-Maximin is caught offside. goal Goal! Goal! Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 1. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba. Post update Attempt saved. Joseph Willock (Newcastle United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Post update Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Harry Maguire. Post update Attempt blocked. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Ritchie. Post update Offside, Manchester United. Luke Shaw tries a through ball, but Jesse Lingard is caught offside. Substitution Substitution, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy replaces Javier Manquillo. Post update Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United). Page 1 of 5 rewind previous Navigate to the next page next Navigate to the last page forward