Matt Ritchie’s 65th-minute strike was enough to secure a first Premier League victory at St. James’ Park since October, an outcome which saw Rafa Benítez’s side climb out of the relegation zone and up to 13th.
After taking the lead, Newcastle came under concerted pressure from the Red Devils, but a superb rearguard display – particularly from debutant ‘keeper Martin Dúbravka – kept the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sánchez at bay.
Shelvey recognised that the Magpies raised their game against José Mourinho’s troops to a man, but the England international was quick to look forward as the battle to avoid the drop to the Championship hots up.
“I think we need to not just do that because it’s Man U – I think we need to do that against every team, and that’s obviously what we’re going to keep trying to do,” he told nufc.co.uk.
“It’s a happy dressing room. We were keeping an eye on the Huddersfield score before the game, so we knew we had to go out there and win. We can’t really do anything in terms of influencing other results – it’s just about us, and I thought we fought like dogs today and thoroughly deserved the three points in the end.
“The gaffer obviously had a game-plan before the game. We stuck to that. The first ten minutes, we should have been 2-0 up. I had a good chance and the ‘keeper has pulled off a good save, and then Ayoze (Pérez) had a good chance as well. We got into half time 0-0 and it was about maintaining what we were doing. They’re a top-class side but I think we thoroughly deserved it. Each and every person in that dressing room deserved that three points today.
“It’s going to give us that confidence. We’ve not got a game next week, so we can have a rest and keep working on the training pitch. That’s one thing with the gaffer here – he’ll always keep drilling us and never let us get ahead of ourselves. We just have to back that performance up with one at Bournemouth now.”
Victory was Newcastle’s first over Manchester United on home soil for more than five years – and still only their second in 15 – and, with the Toon Army in full voice, Shelvey took a moment to reflect on the significance of Sunday’s result.
“To me, growing up, Man United were the biggest team in the world and they probably still are – it doesn’t matter how many times Man City win the league or the way they play – Man U is Man U at the end of the day, and for us to come and beat them, with the team they have got, is a massive achievement for the lads and this club,” he said.
“The last four or five minutes, you could hear the crowd really drilling us on – you couldn’t even talk to someone on the pitch because the crowd were so loud, and that’s what you want. And fair play to them – we need that every game and they give it to us every single game.”
