Reserves: United 5 Newcastle 1
United's Reserves provided a fitting send-off for departing manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, hammering Newcastle United at Moss Lane.
The league leaders were roundly thrashed as Ravel Morrison and Will Keane hit a pair apiece and Ryan Tunnicliffe also tucked away a neat finish, while scores of other opportunities went begging.
Morrison opened the scoring and Keane doubled the Reds' lead just before the interval. The striker then missed a penalty early in the second period, shortly before Michael Richardson pulled a goal back for the Magpies.
United continued to create the greater openings, however, and Morrison powered in his second before Tunnicliffe slotted home a finish and Keane headed home from close range in injury-time.
Newcastle's sketchy defending - unaided by an insistence on playing a high defensive line - made for countless opportunities for the hosts. The opener from Morrison, however, was barely a half-chance.
The tricky attacking midfielder's initial pass to Tunnicliffe had been intercepted, but he reacted quickly, fashioned space and hit a low, early shot fractionally inside Ole Soderberg's near post.
As United dominated, Marnick Vermijl shot just wide with Soderberg rooted, while the young stopper had to be alert to pip Keane to Magnus Eikrem's lofted pass in a closely contested foot race.
Keane took his customary place on the scoresheet shortly before the interval. Eikrem's corner was flicked on by Tunnicliffe, and the unmarked Keane gently half-volleyed home a simple finish.
Within five minutes of the restart, United should have been home and hosed. Shortly after Soderberg had saved well from Vermijl, debutant Tyler Blackett was clipped inside the Newcastle area. The usually reliable Keane fluffed his lines from the spot, however, and watched on in horror as Soderberg palmed away his tame effort.
When Richardson pulled a goal back almost instantly, slotting home from close range via a deflection off Blackett, United were in danger of squandering a position of total comfort. Newcastle enjoyed greater pressure than previously, but a header wide from Philip Airey was their only brush with parity.
The chances kept flowing for United. Keane was superbly denied in a one-on-one with Soderberg and Vermijl drilled the rebound into the side netting, but Morrison restored the hosts' two-goal lead with a powerful, dipping shot which deceived the visiting goalkeeper.
Four minutes on, Oliver Norwood expertly released Tunnicliffe with a magnificent left-footed pass, and the rampaging midfielder bore down on goal and tucked a low finish past Soderberg.
Ben Amos produced a magnificent save from Airey, turning away the striker's powerful effort with an instinctive flick of the left foot, but still United manufactured openings.
Substitute Sean McGinty slashed over from close range, Morrison sprung the offside trap and dragged his shot wide, and then once more found a route behind the visitors' defence and lobbed Soderberg, but it needed a simple header from the onrushing Keane to direct it over the line.
A five-star show from a collection of players groomed and honed by their manager. As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hands over the reins to Warren Joyce, he can rest assured that he leaves behind a burgeoning bunch of talents.
United: Amos; M Keane (McGinty 86), R Brown, Dudgeon, Blackett (Van Velzen 80); Vermijl, Norwood, Eikrem, Tunnicliffe, Morrison; W Keane.
Subs not used: Coll, Lingard, Cofie.
Manchester United Official Web Site - Reserves: United 5 Newcastle 1
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.