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United--Interview
Match Report
The Best Humbled
News--Squad--Results--Fixtures--Opinion--Standings--Links
Reek
of the Week--Guestbook--Multimedia--Noarlunga
United--Interview
Match Report
The Best Humbled
Newcastle United
3
Ferguson '26
Shearer '76, '85
Manchester United
0........
PERHAPS the title race is not over after all.
Newcastle gave the pack chasing Manchester United some hope when they
sent the league leaders crashing to only their third Premiership defeat
of the
season at St James' Park. Alan Shearer scored twice and Duncan Ferguson
once to do the damage, although some of United's wounds were self-inflicted
as Roy Keane was sent off for the sixth time in his Old Trafford career.
The victory will be particularly sweet for Shearer, who has never been
forgiven
by the United fans or boss Sir Alex Ferguson for turning down the chance
to
join the club twice. In the programme notes he claimed he could not see
any
other team but United winning the league, but perhaps he was just indulging
in some mind games a la Ferguson. With Leeds now just three points behind
United, he may yet change his mind.
On a day when Andy Cole was expected to score what would have been his
100th United goal against his former club, Shearer rewrote the script in
spectacular fashion. His strikes in the 75th and 85th minutes took his
tally
for Newcastle for the season to 23 and he is now just seven short of 300
career goals. The win was easily Bobby Robson's best moment since taking
over his beloved Newcastle at the start of September and how fitting that
the
Magpies' saviour is set to sign a new contract next week.
Newcastle had fancied their chances of throwing a spanner into United's
finely-
tuned works and they went into the game unbeaten at home under Robson.
They had netted an impressive 39 goals in those 13 matches to climb away
from relegation trouble and their three against United just maintained
that
average. Such a scoreline appeared unlikely at the start when United made
a bright opening to the game.
The fit-again Ryan Giggs found Paul Scholes unmarked on the right and he
centred for Teddy Sheringham, who steered the ball over the bar. David
Beckham's right foot was proving as troublesome as ever for the opposition,
but he got it all wrong when he ran in to meet Cole's cross and fired over.
The busy Kevin Gallacher seemed to be everywhere and he almost caught
Mark Bosnich out with a shot from an acute angle on the left, but the United
goalkeeper recovered to make the save. Gallacher then popped up in the
other
box when he made a terrific saving tackle to halt Beckham as he ran through
on goal. In the main, though, it was United who were exerting most of the
pressure only for the game to turn on its head when Newcastle took the
lead
on 26 minutes through Ferguson. Warren Barton played the ball to Shearer
on the right, who nodded it on for the big Scot to turn and volley home
an
unstoppable effort from the corner of the area. Ferguson's ninth goal of
the
season spurred Newcastle on and Gallacher should have done better when
he shot wide from a good position before Kieron Dyer's deflected cross
hit
the foot of the post.
Gallacher did better with a 30-yard drive, which whistled over the bar,
before
Jaap Stam managed to get his vast bulk in the way to block a goalbound
effort
from Ferguson. Gary Speed, who was making his 100th appearance for Newcastle,
wasted a good chance when he volleyed wide from Mickael Silvestre's weak
header. Shearer directed a diving header over the bar before in stoppage
time at the end of the first half, the England skipper played Ferguson
through
on the left only for the former Everton hitman to shoot over.
United's frustration was summed up when Keane, who had already been spoken
to by referee Steve Lodge, was booked for dissent. Shearer followed Keane
into Lodge's book when he was cautioned 10 minutes into the second half.
Sir Alex Ferguson's temper was reaching boiling point and he vented his
fury on the fourth official after United had a corner refused and a penalty
appeal for handball rejected. Cole thought he had equalised in the 61st
minute when he lifted the ball over Steve Harper only for the Newcastle
goalkeeper to turn and grab the ball on the line.
Keane was losing control and he escaped punishment for a lunge at Harper,
but he was not so fortunate 60 seconds later in the 64th minute when he
cut
down Speed. The United skipper did not even wait for Lodge to produce the
yellow card and then the red as he walked straight off the pitch. Cole
was also
booked for dissent, while Scholes and Stam were later booked as Lodge took
the names of five United players.
Ferguson tried to reorganise his 10 men and he brought Nicky Butt on for
Denis Irwin off and played with just three at the back. This left extra
space for
Newcastle to exploit and Speed shot just wide from one chance on the left.
United switched to plan B when they replaced Sheringham with Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer, but it was the home side who scored next in the 75th minute.
Shearer
advanced to the edge of the area from where he cracked home a low shot
into
the far corner.
Shearer wasn't finished yet and five minutes from time he turned home substitute
Didier Domi's cross to complete a magical afternoon for the Toon Army.
It was
United's first defeat at St James' Park since their 5-0 drubbing in October
1996, although their supporters will be quick to point out that they went
on
to win the championship that season.
