• Date: Wed 04 March 2009
  • Venue: St James' Park
  • Ref: Bennett, S
  • Attendance: 51,636
Newcastle United

Newcastle United

Lovenkrands (9)

1 - 2
Manchester United

Manchester United

Rooney (20)

Berbatov (56)

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

Team Lineups

Newcastle United

Steve Harper
Ryan Taylor, R (Andy Carroll, 77)
Fabricio Coloccini
Jose Sanchez Enrique
Sebastien Bassong
Steven Taylor, S
Njitap Geremi
Jonas Gutierrez
Alan Smith (Kazenga LuaLua, 82)
Obafemi Martins
Peter Lovenkrands

Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar
Patrice Evra
John O'Shea
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Michael Carrick
Darren Fletcher
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ji-Sung Park
Wayne Rooney
Dimitar Berbatov (Ryan Giggs, 90)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Steve Bennett blows for full-time and Manchester United are again seven points clear at the top of the table.

90

Cristiano Ronaldo slides the ball across the six-yard box but there is no-one there to meet the cross.

90
Yellow Card
 

Jonas Gutierrez is booked for a tackle from behind on Ji-Sung Park.

90

Jose Sanchez Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez combine well but Michael Carrick is back again to clear the ball well upfield.

89

There will be three minutes of added time.

88
Substitution
 

Dimitar Berbatov is replaced by Ryan Giggs.

86

Michael Carrick does well to steal the ball off Jose Sanchez Enrique on the edge of the area.

85

Obafemi Martins has a shot which is well held by Edwin van der Sar.

84

Cristiano Ronaldo gives the ball away carelessly and Manchester United are in danger of becoming a little complacent.

82

Peter Lovenkrands has a low shot and Edwin van der Sar is down to make the save.

81
Substitution
 

LuaLua is on for Alan Smith.

79

Alan Smith loses the ball again and Michael Carrick charges forward but can't make the most of the opportunity.

78

Cristiano Ronaldo goes past Steven Taylor in the area and finds Wayne Rooney but he can't get his shot away.

76
Substitution
 

Ryan Taylor is replaced by Andy Carroll.

74

Newcastle are putting themselves under pressure with poor defensive clearances.

72

Manchester United break after Alan Smith loses the ball and Dimitar Berbatov forces a great save from Steve Harper.

70

Wayne Rooney has a shot from just outside the area which is straight at Steve Harper and he manages to keep hold of the ball.

69

Wayne Rooney powers forward and is well challenged by Jose Enrique.

68

Alan Smith makes another strong challenge on Dimitar Berbatov and receives a talking-to from the referee.

67

Tonight's game isn't a sell-out but there are still almost 52,000 inside St James' Park.

65

Ryan Taylor concedes a free-kick for a challenge on Patrice Evra and the referee speaks to them both.

63

Sebastien Bassong makes a great last-ditch challenge and concedes another corner.

62

Newcastle are chasing the game now.

61

Obafemi Martins is again down after being crowded out by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic but no free-kick is given.

60

The crowd appeals for a penalty after Obafemi Martins goes down in the area but nothing is given.

58

The Manchester United fans are making themselves heard now.

56
Goal
 

Dimitar Berbatov puts the visitors in front with an easy finish after Steven Taylor's error allows Ji-Sung Park to roll the ball across goal.

55

Nemanja Vidic is off the field again receiving treatment on his cut cheek

54

Patrice Evra puts in a searching cross and Steve Harper is forced to make the save.

54

Alan Smith has made a couple of heavy challenges and could be the next into the book.

53

Newcastle have started the second half well and the crowd are responding.

52

Peter Lovenkrands is almost on the end of Jonas Gutierrez's pass but Edwin van der Sar is able to make the clearance.

51

Ryan Taylor wastes another free-kick as he lofts the ball over the heads of everyone in the area.

50

Both players are back on the pitch.

49

Nemanja Vidic needs some treatment after a clash of heads with Obafemi Martins.

48

Obafemi Martins creates a chance for himself with some great skill but then gives the ball away.

47

Steven Taylor makes an important clearance just as Patrice Evra is about to find himself through on goal.

Second half
 

The second half gets underway.

45
Yellow Card
 

Rio Ferdinand is booked for arguing with the referee after the half-time whistle had gone.

Half time
 

The referee blows for half-time.

45
Yellow Card
 

Steven Taylor pushes Cristiano Ronaldo out of play and is booked.

45

There is one minute of added time.

44

Patrice Evra is through on goal but passes to Ji-Sung Park who is tackled well by Alan Smith.

42

Newcastle can take a breather as they win a free-kick.

41

Wayne Rooney tries to hit a shot on the turn but miskicks and it goes wide.

40

Michael Carrick's corner isn't dealt with by Newcastle and Nemanja Vidic just fails to make contact at the far post.

38

Manchester United have started to dominate possession in the last five minutes and the pressure is building.

36

Cristiano Ronaldo finds Michael Carrick who drills the ball too far forward and Steve Harper is able to gather.

35

Newcastle are able to clear the corner.

35

Cristiano Ronaldo whips in a shot which is deflected for a corner.

34

Newcastle are able to clear the corner but Darren Fletcher gets back to prevent the counterattack.

33

Steve Harper fists the ball away for another corner.

33

Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov link up well and win another corner.

32

Edwin van der Sar flaps at the corner but his defenders manage to clear for a Newcastle throw-in.

31

Ryan Taylor's cross is deflected off Nemanja Vidic for a corner.

29

Jonas Gutierrez makes a great run down the right, beating a couple of defenders, but can't find a team-mate with his final ball.

27

Newcastle are causing Manchester United problems, particularly the pace of Obafemi Martins.

25

Jose Sanchez Enrique sends in a great cross but Peter Lovenkrands can't make the most of it and Manchester United can clear.

23

Manchester United appeal for a corner as Cristiano Ronaldo's effort hits a defender on the arm but the referee judges it to be ball to hand.

22

Newcastle need to keep the tempo up if they're to take something from this game.

20
Goal
 

Wayne Rooney equalises from just outside the area after exchanging passes with John O'Shea, his shot taking a deflection and flying past Steve Harper.

19

Ryan Taylor gets underneath the ball and his free-kick clears the wall and the bar.

18
Yellow Card
 

Obafemi Martins is fouled by Nemanja Vidic on the edge of the area and Vidic is booked.

16

Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick is straight into the wall and Wayne Rooney can only find Fabricio Coloccini with the rebound.

15

A corner falls to Wayne Rooney whose effort is well wide.

13

Newcastle break again and Peter Lovenkrands and Obafemi Martins exchange passes before Martins has a shot which is inches wide.

12

Wayne Rooney has a left-foot shot from over 20 yards out which is well held by Steve Harper.

11

The Newcastle crowd are in full voice now.

9
Goal
 

Newcastle break from the corner and Jonas Gutierrez's shot is palmed by Edwin van der Sar straight to Peter Lovenkrands who slots the ball home.

8

Cristiano Ronaldo hits a low shot which is deflected wide and the visitors have their first corner.

7

Manchester United defend the corner and try to break through Wayne Rooney but he gives the ball away.

6

Jonas Gutierrez wins Newcastle their first corner.

4

Another ball is played over the top to Wayne Rooney who is again offside.

3

Obafemi Martins has a right-foot shot from 25 yards out which goes well wide.

2

Jonas Gutierrez's cross into the area is cut out by Michael Carrick.

1
Kickoff
 

Newcastle get the game underway and Manchester United immediately attack only for Wayne Rooney to be flagged offside.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Alan Smith makes his first start of the season against his former club, while Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-Sung and Dimitar Berbatov all return for the visitors.