FT:Man Utd 6-0 Newcastle: Finally the pain's over for Newcastle after United blitzed them in a second half performance that sent a message to their title rivals

Alan Smith is cleary unimpressed with the goal counting and is dismissed for foul and abusive language.

GOAL:Man Utd 6-0 Newcastle: (90mins) Nani flicks O'Shea's cross on and Carlos Tevez diverts it back past Given to complete the rout.

GOAL:Man Utd 5-0 Newcastle: (88mins) Another superb individual goal from Ronaldo that clinches his first hat-trick for United.

GOAL:Man Utd 4-0 Newcastle: (86mins) Another brilliant goal as Rooney chips it in behind and Ferdinand finishes it off from an angle.

Yet again Newcastle clear off the line as Simpson fires it in from the edge of the box.

Charles N'Zogbia has been another Newcastle player to shine today and he runs all of 50 yards with the ball and but for a perfectly timed challenge from Vidic he may have scored.

Now Newcastle make another change as Michael Owen is replaced by David Rozehnal.

Damien Duff is tricked by Ronaldo and he gets a booking for swiping out a leg and bringing him down.

Somehow the Newcastle goal survives as Enrique clears a blast from Carrick off the line and then Shay Given denies Nani from long range with a superb stop once more.

Yet again Given denies Rooney who really could have had a double hat-trick with a bit more luck today. Shay Given has been superb this afternoon.

Danny Simpson almost makes it four after a superb one-two with Rooney on the edge of the box but Given makes another fine save.

United's passing and movement today has been simply superb and Newcastle are rather fortunate to have run into Wayne Rooney in a slightly wasteful mood because the scoreline could have been much higher.

A double change for United as Nani and Darren Fletcher come on in place of Ryan Giggs and Anderson.

GOAL:Man Utd 3-0 Newcastle: (70mins) But United have sliced through again. Ronaldo finishes off a sensational Manchester United move with Tevez the chief supplier once more.

Newcastle have steadied the ship well since that two goal blitz from United and they deserve credit for how they have defended for the majority so far.

Patrice Evra is limping a little and he comes off now to be replaced by Danny Simpson.

Mark Viduka is on for James Milner as Newcastle go in search of a goal to get themselves back in it.

Another chance for Rooney as he miscues a header at the near post wide after Tevez's superb cross in. Will he ever get a goal?

United look to have taken their foot off the pedal a touch but they could also come alive at any moment to strike again if they want.

But Newcastle almost get one back as N'Zogbia fires on from range and Owen is onto the rebound but he mishits the follow up and Ferdinand easily clears.

It really is party football at Old Trafford now with backheels and clever flicks galore from Giggs and Tevez before Rooney's chip is saved by Given.

GOAL:Man Utd 2-0 Newcastle: (54mins) Given scuffs a clearance to Giggs inside the area and he finds Tevez who simply taps it home. And now Newcastle have real problems.

Will that goal now open the fllodgates in the Newcastle defence? Rio Ferdinand rises to meet a Giggs corner and its just wide again.

GOAL:Man Utd 1-0 Newcastle: (49mins) There it is! Ronaldo is the man to finally break the dead lock as he hits a free-kick under the wall and in for his 20th of the season.

The opening moments of this half seem to suggest the second half will follow the same pattern as they first as United go close again.

Within 20 seconds of the start of the half Steven Taylor makes two goalline clearances to deny first Tevez and then Rooney.

The second period is underway and the visitors will be very pleased with their first half display and the longer this continues the more frustrated United will become.

HT:Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle: Newcastle have somehow managed to get to the break on level terms, mainly thanks to Given but you get the feeling the goal is coming.

Wayne Rooney gets the first booking of the game for scything down Milner but the United players are not happy as they feel Alan Smith's tackle earlier was worse and went unpunished.

There are going to be 2 minutes of time added on.

Ronaldo again has a chance, this time with a header from a corner that he nods just wide of goal.

There is frustration written all over the faces of the United players as Ronaldo sees Given deny him brilliantly and Giggs' rebound is blocked by Cacapa.

The United players are furious that Ronaldo is not given a free-kick but they are actually lucky to escape at the other end as Owen is given offside as he slots home when he appeared to be onside.

And again Tevez feeds Rooney on the corner of the box and he tries something similar and this time he is even closer to finding the top corner.

United are back on the attack now and Tevez feeds Rooney who tries to dink the ball over Given who is off his line but its a fraction wide of the net.

But Tevez almost puts United ahead with a curling effort from outside the box that Given does well to grab at the first attempt.

Newcastle are defending stoutly and this is a really committed first half performance from them.

Milner is Newcastle's brightest spark so far and he lets fly from 30 yards and forces a save from Van Der Sar.

Replays appear to suggest that both Ronaldo and Giggs has good claims for spot kicks and Sir Alex Ferguson is not happy.

United want two penalties but get none as first Ronaldo mazes his way into the box and falls under challenge from Cacapa and then Giggs goes to ground after a challenge from Smith.

Carrick turns into trouble on the edge of his own area and Duff robs him of possession and hits a shot at goal that rises just over.

Evra and Giggs combine on the left and Evra drops the ball into the area where Ronaldo is arriving, Given punches but only as far as O'Shea and Cacapa clears off the line.

For the first time really United become a little erratic in their passing play and Nigel Pearson will be delighted his side have got through to now without falling behind.

More good play from the hosts with Ronaldo and Rooney again setting O'Shea free and he stands the ball up to the back post where Tevez rises but can only head wide.

The Newcastle defence are not getting a moment's rest at the minute and it is surely only a matter of time before United score - probably Rooney.

Superb movement from United again and Carrick chips a delightful ball into Rooney and Given again has to deny him after a good volley.

On the break Newcastle can't handle United as Giggs and then Anderson drive forward to feed Rooney who cuts inside and hits another shot that Given is forced to palm out for a corner.

Newcastle now manage to get their first attempt of the game as O'Shea makes a mess of a cross and i drops for Milner but the Irishman is back in position to block the shot.

The home side have enjoyed all the possession early on here and they are trying to oick their way through and Newcastle need to get in amongst them earlier;

Another lightning attack from United as O'Shea releases Ronaldo who first time cuts it in field to Rooney who lets go another shot but this one is a little scuffed and Given holds easily.

Unfortunately for the travelling Toon fans it is looking rather ominous for their side early on with United already settled into their rhythm.

And now Carrick and Tevez are the creators and Carrick plays a superb ball into Rooney who takes a good first touch before hitting his shot just over from the edge of the box.

United look really up for this as Ronaldo and Rooney combine to release O'Shea down the right flank but Enrique does well to let it roll out for a goal kick.

Rob Styles takes charge of this game that usually guarantees goals and it will be interesting to see how Newcastle react to Sam Allardyce's departure, while United can go top following Arsenal's draw earlier.

Newcastle: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Milner, Smith, Butt, N'Zogbia, Duff, Owen

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez

Newcastle meanwhile are in a bit of turmoil but Michael Owen is on the road to fitness and he starts while two United old boys, Nicky Butt and Alan Smith, face their former employers.

United had suffered a poor Christmas period but Wayne Rooney is back in the starting lineup with Tevez also back from injury and United are almost at full strength.

Welcome to Old Trafford where Manchester United host managerless Newcastle are the visitors, and they face a daunting task.