Barclays Premiership - Match 1
 

Season 2008-2009

MANCHESTER UNITED

1 v 1

NEWCASTLE UNITED

  Darren Fletcher 24

Obafemi Martins 22

  
     
  Date: Sunday 17th August 2008
  Venue: Old Trafford
  Kick Off: 4:00pm (BST)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 1
  Attendance: 75,512
  Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)
  Read Match Preview  
   

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick (O'Shea 25), Scholes, Giggs (Possebon 63), Campbell (Rafael Da Silva 80), Rooney

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Evans, Gibson
  Booked: Campbell, Brown, Rooney
   

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Duff, Martins

Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Bassong, Smith, Geremi, Edgar, Donaldson 
  Booked: None
     
 

Post Match Comments:

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"We played well in the first half, and their goalkeeper made several good saves to keep them in the match.

"Our attacking play in the first half was good. But as soon as we lost Ryan Giggs to a hamstring injury and Michael Carrick with an ankle, which is swollen up badly - he'll be out for two to three weeks - we lost a bit of our experience in midfield.

"We had possession of the ball but didn't make it count at times - but in light of the people we had missing, it was a creditable result for us."

Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan:
"That was a good, good performance from us and we thoroughly deserved a point.

"Of course you are going to have to ride your luck when you come to a place like this and we did, but no-one can say we got more than we deserved.

"Newcastle fans will go away saying how they witnessed a team playing for the supporters, playing for the badge, playing for the club - and that's what they deserve.

"There were lots of good things for us to build on but we mustn't get carried away as there are a lot of tough games to come."

Watch Kevin Keegan's post match interview

  
     
  BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:
Newcastle's Shay Given on 8.43 (on 90 minutes)		  
     
 

 
     
  Match Report:  
  Newcastle United stunned Premier League champions Manchester United, by holding them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

A first half header from Obafemi Martins gave the Magpies the lead on 22 minutes, but that only lasted two minutes before Darren Fletcher levelled by converting a Ryan Giggs' left-wing cross.

Toon manager Kevin Keegan handed debuts to Argentinean duo Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini, as well as midfielder Danny Guthrie.  While Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to hand Fraizer Campbell his first Premier League start for the club due to the absence of striker Carlos Tevez, who flew home to Argentina following a family bereavement.

It was a frantic start to the game, with both sides attacking, however, Newcastle were kept in the game by a string of world class saves from Shay Given.

Given made a point blank save from Campbell, as the young striker failed to convert an golden opportunity.  Not long afterwards the Irish international made a magnificent double save, from Rooney's low right-foot drive and then Paul Scholes' close-range follow-up.

Despite Man United's early dominance, Newcastle refused to be overrode this time and themselves created a host of chances.

Impressive new signing Jonas Gutierrez should have had a free-kick on the edge of the United box when he was bundled over by Vidic, before they took the lead.

Milner swung over a corner from the right and Martins rose unchallenged to power a header past Edwin van der Sar and into the net.

However, Manchester's response was almost instant as Giggs floated the perfect ball towards the front post for Flecther to flick past Given.

An entertaining first half ended 1-1.

The second half started the same as the first, with Man United looking just as likely to concede as score a second goal.

Martins tested Edwin van der Sar from long range - but then so did Fraiser Campbell as Given stretched once more to keep the youngster's shot out.

With Man United looking more and more ragged, Newcastle grew in confidence, Martins, Gutierrez and Milner all looking useful on the break.

Once again it was Martins who found himself unmarked in the penalty box, but this time he was unable to direct his unmarked header on target.

A brilliant tackle from defender Nemanja Vidic on Gutierrez, when he was clear through in the box, prevented another Newcastle opportunity.

At the other end Vidic saw his downward header bounce up on to the crossbar.

But despite a late free kick on the edge of the box in the last minute, that was wasted by Wayne Rooney, Newcastle were rarely trouble, and more than deserved their share of the points. 		 
     
 

AUSSIE MAGS By Row 'S' Army