'We didn't play to our level'

UNITED struggled to match Newcastle's intensity when they were defeated at St. James' Park last season and Eddie Howe's side caused the same problems from the first whistle.

- STEVEN RAILSTON

Newcastle deserved their 1-0 victory and Maguire was the player to emerge after the game for postmatch media duties.

"The boys are disappointed," he told MUTV. "I don't think we played to our level and it's been a tough week. Three away games, six days, but we don't use that as an excuse. We didn't play well enough, especially in the first half.