‘Not since Solskjaer’ - the damning Man Utd stat that sums up unacceptable away record

Manchester United continued their woeful record away to the Premier League’s top sides, when they lost 1-0 against Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Erik ten Hag claimed after the match that, had they had a little luck at the end, the Red Devils could have come away with a point from St James’ Park, but the statistics underlined the sheer gulf between the teams.

Newcastle managed 22 shots compared to just eight from the visitors, while the Magpies registered an expected goals of 3.06, with United managing just 0.38 in the North-East. Ten Hag’s side lacked spirit and leadership on Saturday night, with TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist saying United’s players need to ‘have a look’ at themselves.

The away defeat also came in the midst of a good run of form on the road and United had won the last four away league games against Burnley, Sheffield United, Fulham and Everton. But against the Premier’s top clubs, it’s a very different story.

As per Opta, United have failed to win any of the last 13 matches away to sides in the top eight, a run that stretches back to October 2021, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager and recorded a 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. United have lost 10 of those 13 games and that record could extend further when Ten Hag brings his side to Anfield on 17 December.

The next opportunities to end that record could come away to West Ham United (23 December) and Aston Villa (10 February).