Paul Scholes aimed a dig at caretaker manager Michael Carrick after Manchester United’s Premier League defeat to Newcastle United.
Carrick suffered his first defeat since returning to Old Trafford as his United team were beaten 2-1 at St James’ Park.
Newcastle looked set for a difficult evening when Jacob Ramsey was sent off in the primary half however the hosts then took the lead through Anthony Gordon’s penalty.
United weren’t behind for long, nevertheless, and equalised on the stroke of half-time through Casemiro’s header.
The Red Devils, unbeaten since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January, were expected to make their numerical advantage count within the second half but were frustrated by a spirited Newcastle.
A stalemate looked inevitable until substitute William Osula curled home an excellent goal to earn ten-man Newcastle a dramatic 2-1 win.
The victory sends Eddie Howe’s side up one place into twelfth while Manchester United stay third, level on points with Aston Villa who lost 4-1 to Chelsea.
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Numerous pundits and a big section of United fans have been calling for Carrick to be given the job permanently following his impressive impact on the team.
Manchester United legend Scholes has voiced his concerns about his former teammate getting the job, nevertheless, and recently named Carlo Ancelotti because the ‘perfect’ candidate.
Taking to Instagram following United’s defeat at St James’ Park, Scholes said: ‘Michael has definitely got something special about him… cos Utd have been crap last 4 games… night.’
Carrick said he was ‘bitterly disillusioned’ after Manchester United suffered their first Premier League defeat since January.
‘We aren’t pleased the way in which we played tonight,’ he said. ‘The best way the sport panned out we had it in our hands largely but credit to Newcastle and so they way they approached it.
‘We knew it will be tough but we navigated the sport to a position where we could kick on but we didn’t. Bitterly disillusioned really.
‘I don’t think it was the ten men, we just didn’t play ok. We will’t make excuses for that. All of us take responsibility for that.
‘It was just the standard of the performance, it wasn’t character or wanting to win, it’s easy to throw that simply because you don’t win a game of football.
‘Newcastle deserved to win tonight, it hurts me to say that. That’s the way it was. We’d like to get back to work and be higher for the subsequent game.
‘We’ve lost one game, we haven’t played well enough but within the grand scheme of things we’re in an honest position. Tonight hurts but we will probably be higher for the subsequent one.
‘You’ve to get back at it, work hard and do the things we did to win the games we’ve won. We will do this, we’re a great team, tonight wasn’t for us.
‘We’ve got to learn from it and recover for it. We had a number of praise these days and the boys deserve it, this doesn’t change how we approach the subsequent game. We’ve got every thing to play for.’
Red Devils goalkeeper Senne Lammens added: ‘It was nowhere near ok.
‘We scored our goal just before half-time and it was really vital to provide us a great feeling going into half time.
‘After we step out on the pitch for the second half it must be higher, I believe our mentality must be higher. In every aspect it was not our game today.
‘I’m undecided what we were lacking. Every team has those games, but you’ll be able to’t put it like that you just all the time must perform, especially here.’
Manchester United now have the weekend off but return to Premier League motion on March 15 against top-four rivals Aston Villa.
Newcastle, meanwhile, face Manchester City within the FA Cup this weekend before an enormous Champions League knockout game against Barcelona.
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