Newcastle United have struggled mightily on Boxing Day over the last decade.
Every year, Boxing Day serves as one of the best days of the Premier League season with a day packed with English soccer action. But, for Newcastle United, the holiday celebrations on the pitch have been few and far between in recent years.
In fact, Newcastle United only won two Boxing Day matches during the 2010s. They defeated Bolton Wanderers, who would be relegated that season, back in 2011. The other victory in that stretch was a 5-1 blowout destruction of Stoke City in 2013.
The last two seasons have featured embarrassing defeats for the Magpies by a combined 8-1 scoreline. In 2018, Liverpool hammered Newcastle, 4-0. That match did see the Premier League debut of Sean Longstaff and propelled him on to a great breakout season.
Last year, Matty Longstaff scored for the second time vs. Manchester United to give NUFC an early lead. Then, the Red Devils blew past them with four goals.
Newcastle also matched up with Man Utd on Boxing Day 2012 and 2014. The 2012 match was a 4-3 shootout loss for NUFC and 2014 was a 3-1 defeat.
With Newcastle United’s current struggles, Boxing Day 2020 doesn’t seem promising. The club is coming off a disappointing draw vs. 10-man Fulham and a loss vs. Brentford in the Carabao Cup. They also face a dangerous Manchester City side, whom they lost to back on Boxing Day 2010 and 12/27/17.
Steve Bruce will hope that Newcastle United can score an upset win away vs. City and turn the club’s fortunes on Boxing Day around to start off this decade.