MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 2-0 Sun 1 Oct
2006
Manchester United brushed Newcastle United aside at Old Trafford,
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netting twice as the Red Devils romped back to
the Barclays Premiership summit.
The Norwegian tapped United in front just before the break, then
sent Nemanja Vidics volley looping into the net to ensure the
hosts scored a decisive victory against a Newcastle side who have
not won at Old Trafford since 1972.
Aside from an injury to Gabriel Heinze, the only disappointment for
the hosts was their failure to score more often, with Cristiano
Ronaldo particularly unlucky, hitting the woodwork three times on
his own.
The excellent Darren Fletcher was also denied by the post, and the
agility of visitors keeper Steve Harper, who pulled off a string
of fine saves to keep the margin of defeat within reasonable
proportions.
As a contest, it was something of a disappointment, with Newcastle
contributing little as an attacking force and an anticipated
midfield duel between England past and future never
materialising.
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, making his first appearance at Old
Trafford since leaving United two years ago, both have vast
experience at international level to call on.
Indeed, Scholes talents are still so obvious, Steve McClaren
called him again last week to see if there was any chance he might
reverse his decision to retire from the England scene.
Given Scholes desire to spend as much time as possible with his
family and away from the limelight, it could hardly have been a
surprise to McClaren the answer was no.
So, with Owen Hargreaves broken leg ruling him out of next weeks
encounter Macedonia, Michael Carrick and Scott Parker lined up
against each other knowing an England cap might rest on the outcome
of their personal duel.
In the event, both men were overshadowed, not just by Ronaldo, who
continues to respond in the most positive manner imaginable to the
jeers of opposition fans, but Fletcher as well.
The Scotland international has had some detractors over the past 12
months, but few could doubt his guts, determination and energy
helped drive United forward in their search for an opener.
Until United finally made the breakthrough, Fletcher had gone
closest to scoring, steaming up alongside Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo,
who combined to set him up for a 20-yard shot which thudded against
Harpers right-hand post.
Although he could hardly claim to have been overworked, Harper was
kept fairly busy and he needed to keep his nerve to hold a vicious
Ronaldo free-kick which dipped right in front of him. He also
brilliantly tipped over Vidic's powerful header from Ronaldo's
corner.
Heinze was replaced in the 31st minute by Patrice Evra but just as
it seemed the visitors would reach half-time on level terms, their
defence was exposed by Ronaldos quick thinking.
The Portugal winger darted across to take a short corner and, after
exchanging passes with Evra, embarked on an arcing run to the edge
of the area.
Once there, he let fly with a shot which proved to be the first of
three shots from Ronaldo alone which came crashing back off the
frame of the visitors goal.
On this occasion, Solskjaer was on hand to tap home the
rebound.
While the Norwegian could rightly claim his own poachers instinct
was responsible for that effort, his second was purely a case of
being in the right place at the wrong time as far as Newcastle were
concerned.
Vidic is still waiting for his first United goal but the volley he
unleashed from Rio Ferdinands knockdown two minutes after the
restart might have opened his account. Instead, it struck
Solskjaer, then looped into the corner.
Suddenly, the Red Devils were flying. Harper saved superbly from
Fletcher, with Ronaldo blasting the rebound against the bar when he
should have done better.
Ronaldo struck the post yet again when, not for the first time, his
mesmerising skill outwitted Stephen Carr; then Fletcher had a
plausible penalty claim turned down when Taylor appeared to turn
the Scots shot away with an arm.
In the end, though, Uniteds outstanding midfield pair had to let
Solskjaer take the goalscoring acclaim from a dominant performance
which suggests Chelsea will face a meaningful challenge in their
quest for a title hat-trick.
http://premierleague.com/competition/matchreport/report.html?id=2722755
