<p>Anthony Martial's double and a Mason Greenwood rocket fired Manchester United to a 4-1 win against Newcastle that lifted the mood at Old Trafford after their recent struggles.</p>.<p>Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side slumped to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at lowly Watford last weekend to raise fresh questions about the United manager's ability to inspire his players.</p>.<p>When Matty Longstaff put Newcastle ahead in the first half on Thursday, Solskjaer's critics were sharpening their knives again.</p>.<p>But Martial rode to Solskjaer's rescue with the equaliser and Greenwood's thunderbolt put United ahead before Marcus Rashford rounded off a first-half blitz.</p>.<p>Martial netted again after the interval as United ended a two-match winless run in the Premier League and moved into seventh place, just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League.</p>.<p>United's failure to match the levels they showed in their recent win at champions Manchester City during lacklustre efforts against Watford and Everton had put Solskjaer's future in the spotlight again.</p>.<p>The Norwegian insisted he retains the support of United owners the Glazer family, but he could hardly afford another setback against mid-table opponents like Newcastle.</p>.<p>Scott McTominay tried too hard to set the tone for United when he crunched into a studs-high tackle on Sean Longstaff that earned him the fastest Premier League booking of the season after just 40 seconds.</p>.<p>That was part of a spluttering start from United and Dwight Gayle should have put Newcastle ahead from Joelinton's pass, but the striker blazed high into the Stretford End.</p>.<p>It was a warning that Solskjaer's men failed to heed as Newcastle took the lead in the 17th minute.</p>.<p>Matty Longstaff had scored the winner against United on his Premier League debut in October.</p>.<p>The 19-year-old midfielder was making just his third appearance since that dream debut at St James' Park and this was his first goal since.</p>.<p>Stepping past Luke Shaw, he produced a fine low finish after Joelinton showed impressive composure to tee up Longstaff inside the penalty area.</p>.<p>Now without a clean-sheet in 14 league games, United needed a quick response to lift the gloom and Martial got a helping hand as he delivered the equaliser in the 24th minute.</p>.<p>Andreas Pereira's neat lay-off from Shaw's pass gave Martial a sight of goal and French striker's low shot squirmed under a weak attempted save from Martin Dubravka at his near post.</p>.<p>Newcastle had contributed to their own downfall on that occasion and Greenwood punished more sloppy defending to put United in front in the 36th minute.</p>.<p>Greenwood, making just his third Premier League start, has been one of the few bright spots in a frustrating season.</p>.<p>The 18-year-old showcased his vast potential when he seized on Fabian Schar's wayward pass and crashed a sublime strike past Dubravka from 20 yards for his eighth goal of the season.</p>.<p>United had all the momentum and increased their lead in the 41st minute, with Rashford climbing highest to power a header into the roof of the net from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's pin-point cross despite Newcastle appeals for a foul in the build-up.</p>.<p>Following Rashford's 15th club goal this season, Solskjaer sent on Pogba at half-time for his second appearance since returning from a lengthy ankle injury.</p>.<p>It was Pogba's compatriot Martial who put the result beyond doubt in the 51st minute.</p>.<p>Sean Longstaff's woeful attempted back-pass from near the halfway line was intercepted by Martial and he raced into the area before clipping his shot over Dubravka.</p>.<p>Martial was inches away from a hat-trick when his long-range blast hit the post.</p>
<p>Anthony Martial's double and a Mason Greenwood rocket fired Manchester United to a 4-1 win against Newcastle that lifted the mood at Old Trafford after their recent struggles.</p>.<p>Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side slumped to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at lowly Watford last weekend to raise fresh questions about the United manager's ability to inspire his players.</p>.<p>When Matty Longstaff put Newcastle ahead in the first half on Thursday, Solskjaer's critics were sharpening their knives again.</p>.<p>But Martial rode to Solskjaer's rescue with the equaliser and Greenwood's thunderbolt put United ahead before Marcus Rashford rounded off a first-half blitz.</p>.<p>Martial netted again after the interval as United ended a two-match winless run in the Premier League and moved into seventh place, just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League.</p>.<p>United's failure to match the levels they showed in their recent win at champions Manchester City during lacklustre efforts against Watford and Everton had put Solskjaer's future in the spotlight again.</p>.<p>The Norwegian insisted he retains the support of United owners the Glazer family, but he could hardly afford another setback against mid-table opponents like Newcastle.</p>.<p>Scott McTominay tried too hard to set the tone for United when he crunched into a studs-high tackle on Sean Longstaff that earned him the fastest Premier League booking of the season after just 40 seconds.</p>.<p>That was part of a spluttering start from United and Dwight Gayle should have put Newcastle ahead from Joelinton's pass, but the striker blazed high into the Stretford End.</p>.<p>It was a warning that Solskjaer's men failed to heed as Newcastle took the lead in the 17th minute.</p>.<p>Matty Longstaff had scored the winner against United on his Premier League debut in October.</p>.<p>The 19-year-old midfielder was making just his third appearance since that dream debut at St James' Park and this was his first goal since.</p>.<p>Stepping past Luke Shaw, he produced a fine low finish after Joelinton showed impressive composure to tee up Longstaff inside the penalty area.</p>.<p>Now without a clean-sheet in 14 league games, United needed a quick response to lift the gloom and Martial got a helping hand as he delivered the equaliser in the 24th minute.</p>.<p>Andreas Pereira's neat lay-off from Shaw's pass gave Martial a sight of goal and French striker's low shot squirmed under a weak attempted save from Martin Dubravka at his near post.</p>.<p>Newcastle had contributed to their own downfall on that occasion and Greenwood punished more sloppy defending to put United in front in the 36th minute.</p>.<p>Greenwood, making just his third Premier League start, has been one of the few bright spots in a frustrating season.</p>.<p>The 18-year-old showcased his vast potential when he seized on Fabian Schar's wayward pass and crashed a sublime strike past Dubravka from 20 yards for his eighth goal of the season.</p>.<p>United had all the momentum and increased their lead in the 41st minute, with Rashford climbing highest to power a header into the roof of the net from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's pin-point cross despite Newcastle appeals for a foul in the build-up.</p>.<p>Following Rashford's 15th club goal this season, Solskjaer sent on Pogba at half-time for his second appearance since returning from a lengthy ankle injury.</p>.<p>It was Pogba's compatriot Martial who put the result beyond doubt in the 51st minute.</p>.<p>Sean Longstaff's woeful attempted back-pass from near the halfway line was intercepted by Martial and he raced into the area before clipping his shot over Dubravka.</p>.<p>Martial was inches away from a hat-trick when his long-range blast hit the post.</p>