Barclays Premiership - Match 28
 

Season 2008-2009

NEWCASTLE UNITED

1 v 2

MANCHESTER UNITED
  Peter Lovenkrands 9 Wayne Rooney 20
Dimitar Berbatov 56		  
     
  Date: Wednesday 4th March 2009
  Venue: St James' Park
  Kick Off: 7:45pm (BST)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 2
  Attendance: 51,636
  Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
  Read Match Preview  
   

Newcastle: Harper, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor (Carroll 77), Geremi, Gutierrez, Martins, Smith (LuaLua 82)

Subs Not Used: Krul, Cacapa, Butt, Ameobi, Edgar
  Booked: Steven Taylor, Gutierrez
   
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Berbatov (Giggs 90), Rooney

Subs Not Used: Foster, Anderson, Scholes, Evans, Tevez, Eckersley
  Booked: Vidic, Ferdinand
     
 

Post Match Comments:
 Caretaker interim Newcastle manager Chris Hughton:
"If we were sitting pretty in the middle of the table I'd be more pleased.

The position we're in it's points that count at this time.

We're hopeful that Damien Duff and Michael Owen will also be available for next week's game, so I think the introduction of these players back into our squad will give us a lift," said Hughton.

Nicky Butt ended up sitting on the bench and that shows the quality of the squad and the spirit that we have here.

He was ruled out today but he was desperate to play and it was a bit of a risk to put him in but he forced it himself.

We're going to need that fighting spirit at the end of the season."
Listen in full to Chris Hughton

 Listen to Man Utd forward Wayne Rooney's comments

  
     
  BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:
Man Utd's Wayne Rooney with 7.79 (on 90 minutes)		  
     
 



 

  
  Match Report:  
  A spirited and much improved Newcastle United rattled the cage of Manchester United at St James Park, but ultimately their efforts failed to earn any points as a defensive howler in the second half gifted the champions all three points.

The home side started the game brightly taking the game to the Red Devils, and their endeavour was rewarded on 9 minutes when Peter Lovenkrands scored from 5 yards out.

Argentinean winger Jonas Gutierrez, who was lively all game, cut inside the left-wing and fired in a shot that Edwin Van der Sar could only spill into the path of Lovenkrands, leaving the Danish international the easiest of finishes.

The pace and trickery of Obefemi Martins was causing plenty of problems for the United defence, a near post strike was only inches wide, and then when clean through on goal he was hauled down by Nemanja Vidic who was subsequently booked.

However, on 20 minutes Wayne Rooney levelled things up for Manchester United.  John O'Shea found Rooney in the area, and he turned and fired a left-foot shot on the turn that deflected slightly past Newcastle keeper Steve Harper.

Both sides continued to press for the remainder of the half, and Vidic should have given Manchester United the lead after 38 minutes, when he somehow managed to head Michael Carrick's corner off target from point-blank range.

The half ended with a flash point when a Steven Taylor lunge from behind caught Cristiano Ronaldo on the side of the head which felled the Portuguese international.  This enraged United captain Rio Ferdinand, who in typical fashion vigorously protested at referee Steve Bennett, thus landing himself a yellow card along with the original offender Taylor.

The second half saw the champions dominate proceeding’s more, without forcing the Newcastle goalkeeper into the level of work that was seen by his former colleague at home to Liverpool back in December, and on 56 minutes a dreadful laps in concentration from Ryan Taylor gifted Manchester the lead.

Rooney played a hopefully long ball from the back down the left-wing, which found Taylor in the right-back position, the Liverpudlian choose to chest the ball back to goalkeeper Harper, however, the ball lacked enough pace and Ji-Sung Park beat the keeper to the ball, and Dimitar Berbatov pounced to slot the loose ball into a empty net.

Newcastle were unable to force the game from that point as Manchester showed touches of extra class, and despite a late resurgence from the Magpies after Andy Carroll and Kazenga LuaLua came on, the league leaders held onto the 1-2 lead.

Victories on the night for Stoke, Spurs, and Hull, plus a draw for Blackburn leaves Newcastle only one point above the relegation zone in 16th place.

With only 10 games remaining in the season, 5 of which are against teams currently in the bottom 8, and 4 others against top 5 outfits, Newcastle’s fate in certainly in it’s own hands.  However, despite this improved display now is the time for points not spirited performances.
 		  
 

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