Report: N'castle 2 United 2

01/01/2007 19:00, Report by Ben Hibbs




This can only be viewed as two points dropped. The Reds controlled much of the match at St James’ Park and, after Paul Scholes had scored his and United’s second, all three points should have been bagged.

But the Reds took the foot off the pedal and Newcastle grabbed a somewhat fortunate equaliser. The draw takes United seven points clear of Chelsea - though it could have been nine - which could be reduced to four if Jose Mourinho’s men can beat Aston Villa away.

The match began as a scrappy affair, with neither side taking hold of any sustained period of possession. But it soon gathered pace and burst into life.

Sir Alex made seven changes to the side that beat Reading 3-2 two days earlier, only Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar remained. Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes were both reinstated following suspension, while Ryan Giggs, Louis Saha, Gary Neville, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher all came in.

Newcastle’s defence comprised two teenagers, a 20-year-old and Nolberto Solano as an emergency right-back.

Opportunities did arise for the Reds. Giggs poked a shot just wide from inside the box in the first ten minutes after a fine through-pass from Saha. The Frenchman then twice went close, once when Giggs put him through with an excellent pass and then again with a header. On both occasions Shay Given denied him.

Newcastle, however, had chances of their own as they looked increasingly dangerous on the break. Dyer forced an excellent save from van der Sar, but Milner went one better on 33 minutes. Cutting inside, he rifled an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top corner to give Newcastle the lead.

To add to United’s woes, Saha limped off with what appeared to be a groin injury. And, when Given saved superbly from Rooney on 38 minutes from Ronaldo’s cross, you wondered whether it was going to be one of those days.

But the Reds are in insatiable form and stuck to the task. Scholes, who has a penchant for scoring at St James Park, started an intricate passing move with Fletcher and Giggs to weave his way to the edge of the box. Once there, he turned three players the wrong way before striking his shot into the far corner to equalise. It marked his tenth career goal against Newcastle and with just five minutes of the half remaining, came it came at a crucial time.

But the action didn’t end there. Both sides had chances to go in at the break in front. On 45 minutes van der Sar saved well from Sibierski’s header. Though, had he placed it either side of the Dutchman, he would have given the Magpies the lead. before Ji-sung Park, on for Saha, struck the post with a left-foot shot on the turn deep into injury time. It was a breathtaking half.

United started the second half in complete control. Park, lively as ever, burst down the right and sent a cross-field ball to Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger drew three defenders towards him befor teeing up Scholes, who struck his shot through a crowd of black and white past Given to make it 2-1.

For a 15-minute spell after the interval, the Reds played some excellent football and looked like adding a third, but as Newcastle’s tempo dropped dramatically United began to relax, a similar pattern to the match against Reading just two days previously.

This time the Reds didn’t have a two-goal cushion as was the case when United were winning 3-1 against Steve Coppell’s side. And, when Newcastle’s teenage full-back David Edgar saw his long-range shot deflect in off Scholes on 74 minutes, Sir Alex’s men were made to pay for not killing the game off.

To add to United’s woes, Saha limped off with what appeared to be a groin injury. And, when Given saved superbly from Rooney on 38 minutes from Ronaldo’s cross, you wondered whether it was going to be one of those days.

But the Reds are in insatiable form and stuck to the task. Scholes, who has a penchant for scoring at St James Park, started an intricate passing move with Fletcher and Giggs to weave his way to the edge of the box. Once there, he turned three players the wrong way before striking his shot into the far corner to equalise. It marked his tenth career goal against Newcastle and with just five minutes of the half remaining, came it came at a crucial time.

But the action didn’t end there. Both sides had chances to go in at the break in front. On 45 minutes van der Sar saved well from Sibierski’s header. Though, had he placed it either side of the Dutchman, he would have given the Magpies the lead. before Ji-sung Park, on for Saha, struck the post with a left-foot shot on the turn deep into injury time. It was a breathtaking half.

United started the second half in complete control. Park, lively as ever, burst down the right and sent a cross-field ball to Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger drew three defenders towards him befor teeing up Scholes, who struck his shot through a crowd of black and white past Given to make it 2-1.

For a 15-minute spell after the interval, the Reds played some excellent football and looked like adding a third, but as Newcastle’s tempo dropped dramatically United began to relax, a similar pattern to the match against Reading just two days previously.

This time the Reds didn’t have a two-goal cushion as was the case when United were winning 3-1 against Steve Coppell’s side. And, when Newcastle’s teenage full-back David Edgar saw his long-range shot deflect in off Scholes on 74 minutes, Sir Alex’s men were made to pay for not killing the game off.


credit: manutd.com