Manchester United collected their first Premier League victory in three games as Bruno Fernandes' penalty secured a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford
Following draws with Everton and West Brom, United had fallen 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, which was extended further on Sunday when Pep Guardiola's side won at Arsenal
Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock when he found the near post (30) but Newcastle deservedly levelled after Allan Saint-Maximin's half volley flashed beyond David de Gea six minutes later
United looked lethargic following their Europa League exertions in the opening period, but Dan James struck (57) to restore their advantage before Fernandes' penalty with 15 minutes remaining settled matters
The result enabled Manchester United to move into second place again following Leicester's win at Aston Villa while Newcastle stay in 17th, three points above the relegation zone
Newcastle, who were again without 10-goal top-scorer Callum Wilson because of a hamstring injury, had won just one of their previous 35 away league games at Old Trafford
It was Steve Bruce's 850th game as a manager, back where he enjoyed so much success as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson, and his side grew in confidence following a high-tempo start
After De Gea punched clear Jonjo Shelvey's cross from Joe Willock's short corner, Joelinton forced the United 'keeper into a fingertip save via a deflection off Victor Lindelof
Miguel Almiron was a lively presence throughout the opening half hour and the Paraguay midfielder was next to spring De Gea into action with a long-range drive but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side went ahead in the 30th minute through a fine Rashford strike
Having collected the ball on the left touchline, he nutmegged Emil Krafth and darted towards the box
 The Newcastle right-back recovered to meet him in the area, only for Rashford to cut past him and unleash a thumping low effort past Karl Darlow at his near post
The hosts continued to struggle from set-pieces, however, and Newcastle exposed that soft underbelly in the 36th minute
Newcastle took another short corner and Willock sent in a cross that Harry Maguire headed into the path of Saint-Maximin to lash past De Gea on the half volley
 It was the fifth time De Gea had conceded in the Premier League from the last seven shots on target, as Newcastle reached the interval deservedly level
The visitors had just 27 per cent possession in the opening period, but still mustered more shots on target than their opponents - four compared to two - to highlight their greater efficiency
 There had been very little initial reaction from the hosts with De Gea alert to smother another Saint-Maximin strike five minutes after the restart
But Manchester United restored their lead moments after Joelinton was withdrawn as Nemanja Matic's pass inside was poked by Fernandes into the path of James, who found the near post to notch his fifth goal of the season
From there, the hosts grew in confidence and their superior quality began to show
 Fernandes went close when his flick-on from Luke Shaw's corner just evaded the far post, but the Portugual midfielder would not be denied his customary goal
Referee Paul Tierney was well placed to spot a foul by Willock inside the box on Rashford following a lovely drag back inside the on-loan Arsenal midfielder
Fernandes missed in the reverse fixture from 12 yards at St James' Park, but he stepped up again for the spot-kick and slotted home low to the left as Darlow fell to the right
Maguire came close to a late fourth when he rose to meet another Shaw set-piece but Darlow was equal to it as Solskjaer's side eventually returned to winning ways with relative ease
Manchester United boss  told  "We had to up the tempo a little bit, especially in the last third and I felt we managed to do that
 It is always difficult to get going after an away game in Europe
"Even though we dominated possession and had a lot of the ball we couldn't create many opportunities
 I felt in the second half we found our positions better
"We can't control any other team, we just have to focus on ourselves and be the best possible Manchester United every game
 Things happen and there are many surprises in football
"Solskjaer said on James' display: "He never disappeared
 He has been working hard behind the scenes and always been available
 He is always a player you can use in different areas with his energy and pace
"We work with him, we try to help everyone but of course Dan came from the Championship, he hit a few goals in the first games and it is bound to take some energy from you
 He has knuckled down and really worked to get back to full fitness but maybe more so confidence, to believe in himself
"Newcastle boss  told  "It's the second goal isn't it? A wicked deflection and a bit of luck and the third one, it's a very soft penalty
 For 60 minutes we gave as good as we got
"We were disrupted when we lost Joelinton, it's difficult to replace him but I was pleased with an hour
 When you come here you have got to be good for 90 minutes
 There were pleasing signs but you have got to turn pleasing signs into results
"We will have a look at the goalkeeper, he will be disappointed to be beaten at the near post for the first goal
 It's been a difficult week but we have games coming up where we think we can take points
"We are a threat now, we are trying to be higher up the pitch
 It will take some getting used to because we have played a certain way for a while
"I am convinced we will be safe, there are six or seven teams looking over their shoulders
 We need to win a few games
 We have to get to that magical point mark - whatever it is
"Solskjaer said Wales international James showed his 'X-factor' in Manchester United's Europa League win over Real Sociedad in midweek, and the player responded to that glowing account here with a vibrant second-half display
His battle with Jamal Lewis was very watchable, and it was a sign of how well the Newcastle left-back played in the opening period that United targeted the opposite flank in the build-up to James' goal
But once the 23-year-old restored his side's lead with his sixth strike for club and country in his last nine games, his tail was up
His four open-play crosses were more than any other team-mate while he also won four fouls for his side as he made another strong case for regular starts in the Premier League
James has scored five goals in 13 games for Manchester United this season, one more than he managed in 46 games across all competitions last season
Manchester United host Real Sociedad in the Europa League round-of-32 second leg on Thursday (kick-off 8pm) before visiting Chelsea on ; coverage starts at 4pm on and  with kick-off at 4
30pm
Newcastle host Wolves next Saturday at 8pm on  and ; coverage starts at 7
45pm
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