Rio Ferdinand has appealed to Newcastle United fans to 'leave off it' after the Manchester United legend was 'ridiculed'.

Ferdinand was bombarded with messages following Manchester United's 2-0 defeat against Newcastle on Monday night. It was just Newcastle's second league win at Old Trafford in more than half a century.

While the result might not have come as a huge surprise, the manner of the victory was striking. Newcastle were 2-0 up after 19 minutes and such was the visitors' dominance in the first half, Kieran Trippier even twice attempted to score directly from a corner kick after seeing Son Heung-min and Matheus Cunha do so against Manchester United this month.

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It said it all that Manchester United did not even have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Although the hosts improved after the break - Harry Maguire hit the post before the hour mark - Newcastle saw the game out to end the year in fifth place. Manchester United, in contrast, will ring in the new year in the bottom half.

"My mind is frazzled because of what's happening at Man United," Ferdinand said after watching his former side slip to 14th place in the table. "I'm out in Dubai and people are trying to ridicule me.

"I've got messages from people that I didn't even know were Newcastle fans on my phone this morning. It's a liberty so, please, it's new year's. Leave off it please guys and I wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope all your dreams and wishes come true."