Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle 0 Manchester United 0: Red Devils held but edge towards the title
Not quite the result Arsene Wenger was praying for, but then not the usual cold-blooded, devastating win on Tyneside that Sir Alex Ferguson was expecting to bury Arsenal's title hopes, either. [LNB]The team labelled 'champions elect' by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew in his programme notes left St James' Park with just one point. [LNB]And rather than delivering the killer blow in the title race with five games to go, the first goalless draw between these two sides in 11 meetings has thrown a lifeline to Arsenal and Chelsea. [LNB] That's just Krul: Newcastle's goalkeeper Tim denies Javier Hernandez (centre) from point-blank range[LNB]Manchester United's lead has stretched to seven points, but it is not the luxurious nine-point gap Ferguson will have expected before the visit to a ground where his team are still unbeaten in 10 years. [LNB]Javier Hernandez squandered a chance in the second minute and then Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, back from suspension and rest, missed the visitors' best two opportunities. [LNB]But it was a late decision by referee Lee Probert not to award United a penalty which angered Ferguson the most. [LNB] Glaring miss: Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs (right) shot his side's best chance wide[LNB]Pardew, who was busy waving imaginarycards all night, admitted his heart was in his mouth in the second minute of added time when Hernandez fell over Danny Simpson's trailing left leg. [LNB]Simpson thought Probert would point to the spot. Repeated runs of the incident on TV proved inconclusive butthe referee had no hesitation in booking the Mexican for diving. [LNB]Pardew, meanwhile, felt Anderson's earlier untidy challenge on Peter Lovenkrands should have resulted in a spot-kick. That was, Pardew said, 'a definite penalty'. Ferguson didn't see it, Probert waved play on. [LNB] [LNB] Up and over: Wayne Rooney misses the target when clean through on goal[LNB]Although Newcastle failed to seriously test Edwin van der Sar, they did start very well. Backed by a rare full quota of home fans, Newcastle took the game to their lofty opponents. [LNB]Stand-in captain Joey Barton launchedtheir first serious attack, but his deep cross from the right evaded anentire penalty area. Jonas Gutierrez collected the loose ball and Barton fell over. [LNB]Seconds later, Gutierrez decided to go for goal himself after dancing past three visiting players but his curling shot hit Chris Smalling. Shola Ameobi headed at Van der Sar before the veteran keeper made a routine save from Cheik Tiote. [LNB] [LNB] Lo blow: Newcastle forward Peter Lovenkrands shoots at goal but misses the target[LNB]When Nemanja Vidic headed another Barton free-kick over his own bar, the leaders' coach Mike Phelan appeared by the touchline, the 19th minute. [LNB]Giggs and Patrice Evra started the move on the left, a small nudge from Hernandez created space for Rooney to leap cleverly over Mike Williamson, only for the striker to shoot over. Not that it was all Manchester United. [LNB]There were two weak freekicks from Barton, a harmless Gutierrez drive into the sidenetting and a mix-up involving Ameobi and Williamson which meant neither man reached Barton'scross from the left. [LNB] Enlarge Lovenkrands squandered their best clear chance two minutes before the half-time whistle. Barton's probing cross split Vidic and Smalling but the unmarked Dane's poor header was way off target. [LNB]After the break, Giggs warmed Krul's hands with a shot from distance, Rooney hit a tame free-kick and Nani failed to trouble the keeper with two long-range efforts. [LNB]And the young Dutchman had a lucky escape in the 64th minute when Anderson's through-ball between Fabricio Coloccini and Williamson left him pondering his position in his area. Eventually Krul did come off his line to save at the feet of Hernandez. [LNB] [LNB] Calm down: Danny Simpson squares up to Hernandez (left) after he went down in the penalty area late on. The Manchester United striker was booked by referee Lee Probert (second left) for diving[LNB]But Giggs wasted the best chance of the night when Evra created an opening and the Welshman sidefooted his shot wide.[LNB]So it was a missed opportunity for Manchester United, but this was a major step towards safety for Newcastle. [LNB]Their fans also had their first glimpse of Stephen Ireland, who nearly scored with his first touch on the turn. They also had nine minutes to abuse Michael Owen no doubt under instruction from Ferguson, who was serving the last game of his five-match ban. [LNB] Pressure cooker: Stephen Ireland (left) made his long-awaited Newcastle debut while Michael Owen (right) was booed by the home fans[LNB] MATCH FACTS NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Krul 7;Simpson 6, Williamson 7, Coloccini 7,Enrique 8; Barton 7, Guthrie 7, Tiote 8,Gutierrez 6; Lovenkrands 6 (Ireland 69min, 6), Ameobi 6 (Ranger 72, 6). Subs not used: Perch, R Taylor, S Taylor, Kuqi, Soderberg. Booked: Tiote, Williamson.MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1):Van der Sar 7; O'Shea 6, Smalling 6, Vidic 8, Evra 7; Carrick 6, Anderson 6 (Valencia 70, 6); Nani 6 (Owen 81), Rooney 6, Giggs 7; Hernandez 6. Subs not used: Park, Fabio, Evans, Gibson, Kuszczak. Booked: Carrick, Hernandez.Man of the match: Cheik Tiote.Referee: Lee Probert 7.[LNB]Phelan's instructions just about stemmed Newcastle's exuberance and the visitors' chances piled up. They should have taken the lead in Owen for abandoning the club after relegation. [LNB]Pardew said: 'Forty points does look good and with our goal differenceyou'd like to think it is enough. But we still have a great opportunityto finish in the top 10 and with the suspensions, injuries and the player we lost in the January window, we can be very proud of that.'[LNB]The Dane headed just over after the visitors struggled to clear Barton's 61st-minute free-kick, but United were starting to up the tempo to repeatedly stretch their hosts once again.[LNB] They should have been in front with 69 minutes gone when Evra carved his way into the box to set up Giggs, but the veteran midfielder contrived to fire wide.[LNB] Nani and Rooney both went close fromdistance as time ran down and Giggs fired wide again two minutes from time. But after Hernandez's yellow card, Rooney headed wide from substitute Antonio Valencia's injury-time cross as Newcastle managed to hold out.[LNB] PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Newcastle 0 Manchester United 0 - follow the action from St James' Park as it happenedManchester United dodge FA action after coach damages Wembley wallFerguson feud ref Atkinson to take charge of FA Cup final at WembleyI have a dream! Kop flop Gonzalez admits he wants to join Man United [LNB] Explore more:People: Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs, Danny Simpson, Alex Ferguson, Joey Barton, Antonio Valencia, Edwin Van Der Sar, Wayne Rooney, Jonas Gutierrez, Nani, Mike Phelan, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Owen Places: Newcastle, Ireland
