Manchester United sweep Newcastle

Manchester United staked their claim for a defence of their league crown after moving top of the Premiership with a comfortable 2-1 win agai...

Manchester United staked their claim for a defence of their league crown after moving top of the Premiership with a comfortable 2-1 win against a lacklustre Newcastle at St. James’s Park today.

Two goals in quick succession after the break from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes cancelled out Alan Shearer’s bullet header in the first half to give United a deserved win.

Striker Michael Chopra had a late chance to equalise for the Magpies but Rio Ferdinand stuck out a boot to block his shot from 12 yards.

Story continues below this ad

Both teams started in combative mood and Newcastle were clearly out to avenge their 6-2 loss in this fixture last April.

Newcastle defender Andy Griffin was booked for bringing down Van Nistelrooy as he turned 40 yards from the Newcastle goal.

Match referee Uriah Rennie was again under the spotlight in the 22nd minute when Ryan Giggs outmuscled defender Andy O’Brien and bore down on goalkeeper Shay Given.

O’Brien caught up with United’s flying winger but appeared to bring him down just outside the box.

Story continues below this ad

Rennie waved play on and was soon surrounded by a pack of incensed United players.

United manager Alex Ferguson was then sent to the stand after making his frustrations known to fourth official Jeff Winter.

Rennie was the centre of controversy again in the 26th minute when Shearer gave Newcastle the lead from Laurent Robert’s left-wing free-kick.

Shearer appeared to push Mikael Silvestre to the ground before rising high an sending a thumping header past United’s American goalkeeper Tim Howard.