Manchester United fell to a shocking 3-0 loss at the Sports Direct Arena that leaves them three points behind league leading Manchester City.
With City beating Liverpool 3-0 the previous day, the Red Devils traveled to Newcastle knowing only a win would be good enough to keep pace with the league leaders.
The game had a frantic opening, with both teams struggling to get to grips with the windy conditions.
Manchester United had the first chance to take the lead when Dimitar Berbatov got on the end of an Antonio Valencia cross, but the Bulgarian striker’s header bounced back off the goalpost.
Newcastle began to gain the upper hand as the game wore on, with central midfielder Cheick Tiote exerting a lot of influence on the game. The Geordies took a deserved lead at the 33 minute mark when Shola Ameobi flicked on, and Demba Ba hooked the ball past Anders Lindegaard for his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
The teams went in at half-time with the Geordies in front 1-0, and it was not long after the restart that they doubled their lead. Two minutes into the second half Newcastle were awarded a free kick 30 yards out when Phil Jones hauled down Ba.
Newcastle took full advantage of the situation when Yohan Cabaye stepped up to fire a spectacular shot past Lindegaard.
United huffed and puffed to get back into the game without any joy, and their miserable evening was complete when a last minute own goal rounded off a 3-0 score line. Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul sent a long punt forward, and Jones calamitously directed the ball into his own net.
The loss leaves Manchester City firmly in control of the title race, and will raise alarm for many of the Old Trafford faithful.
Sir Alex Ferguson refused to sound the alarm, and insists his team are still firmly in the title race.
“It’s not a time for panic,” the United boss told BBC Sport. “We have the experience to cope.”
While Ferguson has been in these situations before, it can be questioned whether players in key areas actually do have the experience at all.
The goalkeeper position is right now a battle between David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard, neither of whom have experience of a successful title race.
Defenders such as Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are talented yet young, and while there is certainly experience in midfield. Players like Ryan Giggs may have too many miles on the clock to push United over the line this season.
Three points is certainly not an unassailable gap for United, but it will be a tough task for them to overhaul City and win their 20th English title.
LINEUPS
NEW – Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Simpson, Williamson, R Taylor, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Tiote, Ba (Obertan 89), Shola Ameobi (Best 75).
MAN – Lindegaard, Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Giggs, Park Ji-Sung (Hernandez 66), Carrick, Nani, Valencia, Berbatov (Welbeck 57), Rooney (Anderson 74).
SCORING SUMMARY
NEW – Demba Ba (Shola Ameobi) 33’
NEW – Yohan Cabaye (unassisted) 47’
NEW – Phil Jones (own goal) 90’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United)
Attendance: 52,299
The game had a frantic opening, with both teams struggling to get to grips with the windy conditions.
Manchester United had the first chance to take the lead when Dimitar Berbatov got on the end of an Antonio Valencia cross, but the Bulgarian striker’s header bounced back off the goalpost.
Newcastle began to gain the upper hand as the game wore on, with central midfielder Cheick Tiote exerting a lot of influence on the game. The Geordies took a deserved lead at the 33 minute mark when Shola Ameobi flicked on, and Demba Ba hooked the ball past Anders Lindegaard for his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
The teams went in at half-time with the Geordies in front 1-0, and it was not long after the restart that they doubled their lead. Two minutes into the second half Newcastle were awarded a free kick 30 yards out when Phil Jones hauled down Ba.
Newcastle took full advantage of the situation when Yohan Cabaye stepped up to fire a spectacular shot past Lindegaard.
United huffed and puffed to get back into the game without any joy, and their miserable evening was complete when a last minute own goal rounded off a 3-0 score line. Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul sent a long punt forward, and Jones calamitously directed the ball into his own net.
The loss leaves Manchester City firmly in control of the title race, and will raise alarm for many of the Old Trafford faithful.
Sir Alex Ferguson refused to sound the alarm, and insists his team are still firmly in the title race.
“It’s not a time for panic,” the United boss told BBC Sport. “We have the experience to cope.”
While Ferguson has been in these situations before, it can be questioned whether players in key areas actually do have the experience at all.
The goalkeeper position is right now a battle between David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard, neither of whom have experience of a successful title race.
Defenders such as Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are talented yet young, and while there is certainly experience in midfield. Players like Ryan Giggs may have too many miles on the clock to push United over the line this season.
Three points is certainly not an unassailable gap for United, but it will be a tough task for them to overhaul City and win their 20th English title.
LINEUPS
NEW – Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Simpson, Williamson, R Taylor, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Tiote, Ba (Obertan 89), Shola Ameobi (Best 75).
MAN – Lindegaard, Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Giggs, Park Ji-Sung (Hernandez 66), Carrick, Nani, Valencia, Berbatov (Welbeck 57), Rooney (Anderson 74).
SCORING SUMMARY
NEW – Demba Ba (Shola Ameobi) 33’
NEW – Yohan Cabaye (unassisted) 47’
NEW – Phil Jones (own goal) 90’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United)
Attendance: 52,299
