Newcastle United 3 Manchester United 0: match report

Two consecutive losses for the Champions puts Manchester City 3 points clear on the top.

Another night, another compelling episode of the great Premier League soap opera, this time starring North-eastenders. Newcastle United were outstanding from back to front, from flank to flank, utterly embarrassing the listless champions as St James’ Park shook with delight.
The architect of this victory was Alan Pardew, the silver fox whose players responded with alacrity to his bright and bold tactics.
Newcastle’s manager went for the jugular, playing two up top, Demba Ba and Shola Ameobi, who swarmed all over Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones.

Ba’s love of strawberry syrup as a pre-match tonic clearly works. Manchester City fans will certainly have toasted him.
Newcastle’s threat was relentless, arriving on the ground, and through the damp night air, with Ba’s fine hooked finish and Yohan Cabaye’s magnificent free-kick. The champions could hardly breathe Newcastle were so in their face. They were so dishevelled by the end that Phil Jones put through his own net.
There was a pace and purpose to Newcastle’s football, a quickness to their tempo as they poured forward, black-and-white-striped streaks ­hurtling towards Rio ­Ferdinand and Jones.
In contrast, Manchester United were poor all over.
No accusing finger can be pointed at Anders Lindegaard; chosen ahead of David de Gea, the Dane had no chance with Newcastle’s goals. This was not the depleted side who lost to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday; ­Dimitar Berbatov partnered Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs were in central midfield while Ferdinand and Jones are both England internationals. Newcastle beat some heavyweight talent.
The spine of Pardew’s side was so strong. Tim Krul enhanced his reputation again in goal, saving what little the champions launched at him, including an early effort from Nani, and distributing the ball well, even helping to create the opener.
At the heart of Newcastle’s defence, Fabricio Coloccini tamed a distracted Wayne Rooney, who needs to regain his focus quickly. Dropped against Rovers, Rooney cut a frustrated figure here, railing at Howard Webb and stumbling when nipping into the area. In truth, he saw little of the ball. Newcastle’s midfield had cut the ­supply line. He accepted his substitution unemotionally, shaking Sir Alex ­Ferguson’s hand en route to the bench. No tantrums. Still a few questions though.
Ferguson’s side occasionally suffer these bad days at the office, although rarely two in succession. How they could do with a mobile powerhouse like Cheick Tioté, who was immense, joining Cabaye in sweeping Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs aside. Up front, Ba was an unstoppable force, while Ameobi imposed himself physically. Newcastle will miss Tiote and Ba when they depart for the African Cup of Nations.
Newcastle began knocking at the ­visitors’ back-door with all the ­fervour of bailiffs. When Ameobi slipped the ball through for Ba, the striker was challenged by Ferdinand, their legs tangled, both fell amid loud appeals for a penalty. Webb waved play on. Pardew was incandescent.
His team suddenly went route one, cutting out Tiote and Cabaye in midfield as Krul launched the ball into the damp night sky. Shola Ameobi beat Jones in the air, flicking on Krul’s missile.
The champions’ defence was cut apart, swinging open like saloon­bar doors. As Newcastle fans stood expectantly, Ba hooked the ball ­brilliantly past the hesitant Ferdinand and Lindegaard.
Newcastle continued to raid. Ba was rampant, charging forward, letting fly just as Giggs caught him. Ryan Taylor’s free-kick slipped just over. Still Newcastle attacked, Ba responding to St James’ cries of “shoot” with a low strike that Lindegaard clutched.
Newcastle’s accuracy continued at the break, two fans managing three out of four hits in the crossbar ­challenge. It was all bar and Ba. As the game resumed, the Senegalese forward was off and running again until brought down by Jones. As the teenager’s name went into Webb’s book, Newcastle plotted further punishment. Cabaye took control, driving the ball past the wall and in off the underside of the bar.
As the party intensified on the great concrete slopes of St James’, the Gallowgate launched into the old Philippe Albert/Rupert the Bear song in homage to Cabaye. Albert was present although there was no sign of Rupert. Everyone certainly knows Cabaye’s name now. The Frenchman has been one of the signings of the season.
Ferguson acted after 56 minutes, removing the disappointing Berbatov and sending on Danny Welbeck, who immediately flicked on Antonio Valencia’s cross. Rooney momentarily threw off the cloak of despond and almost scored but for Danny Simpson’s alertness on the line.
Ferguson twisted again, sending on Javier Hernández and pushing Rooney left. No joy. Ferguson then played his last card, sending on Anderson for Rooney, whose removal stirred great delight amongst the Toon Army. Pardew was still barking out instructions. At times he walked up and down anxiously, knowing how much victory would mean to the Newcastle fans and for the team after a recent wobble.
Even when the visitors managed to fashion an opening, Krul dived at the feet of Hernández to end the threat. The redoubtable barricades of Newcastle’s defence contrasted with the one down the other end: poor communication between Lindegaard and Jones ended with the centre-half scoring his own goal. How the Gallowgate loved this. The Etihad too.

source: thetelegraph