Rooney volley spikes Newcastle

Manchester United needed a stunning second-half equaliser from Wayne Rooney and a rare goal from Wes Brown to beat Newcastle United 2-1 and ...

Manchester United needed a stunning second-half equaliser from Wayne Rooney and a rare goal from Wes Brown to beat Newcastle United 2-1 and keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Though Chelsea are virtually assured of the title on 85 points, United’s victory moved them on to 70, one point behind an Arsenal side who face Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Monday.

Arsenal are anxious to hold on to second place and qualify automatically for next season’s Champions League. They also know that failing to beat Spurs at Highbury will make Chelsea champions.

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Sunday’s other game was a thumping 4-1 victory for Portsmouth in the South coast derby against Harry Redknapp’s bottom-placed Southampton, who remain Prime candidates for relegation.

Up at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson’s men found themselves unexpectedly behind.

Darren Ambrose gave the visitors a 27th minute lead.

But United were lifted just before the hour when Rooney kept his eye on a headed clearance before meeting the ball with a fantastic thundering volley into the top corner that gave Shay Given no chance.

Brown’s first league goal, a header from a Ryan Giggs corner, secured the win. (Reuters)