Source: Northern_Echo
Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 0
Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 0[LNB] WELCOME back. Newcastle might have spent a year away from the Premier League, but the difficulty of the task facing them remains unchanged from the last time they competed amongst the elite.[LNB] Last year's Championship champions ran into the top-flight's most recent runners-up, and the result was an encounter that, while containing glimpses of hope for the future, underlined the extent of the challenge that must be conquered in the next nine months.[LNB] It doesn't matter how many battling victories you achieved at the likes of Preston and Plymouth last season, nothing quite prepares you for the short, sharp shock of a visit to Old Trafford.[LNB] Having acquitted themselves reasonably successfully for the opening half-hour, Newcastle went to sleep twice as they conceded goals to Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher in the run-up to half-time.[LNB] It was a brief series of aberrations, but combined with Ryan Giggs' exquisite late volley, it was enough to condemn Chris Hughton's side to a routine 3-0 defeat. Mistakes that might not have mattered last term have a habit of hurting you in the top-flight.[LNB] That is the first lesson that should be learned from last night's game, but Newcastle's defeat never looked like being the humiliation some had feared. It might be a small crumb of comfort, but at least the Magpies can content themselves with not appearing out of place at their new level.[LNB] As expected, Hughton sent his side out with a five-man midfield intended to stifle Manchester United's array of attacking talent. As feared, however, the policy was in tatters before the break.[LNB] Containment was always going to be the intention before the interval and, initially at least, the Magpies' Premier League return was surprisingly free of alarms.[LNB] With Alan Smith, playing in place of the injured Danny Guthrie, and Joey Barton tackling tigerishly in front of the back four, and centre-half Mike Williamson winning a succession of aerial challenges on his Premier League debut, it was 33 minutes before Manchester United recorded their first effort on target.[LNB] Predictably, though, that effort resulted in a goal. Newcastle had begun to concede possession with regularity in the five minutes or so leading up to Berbatov's strike, and their sloppiness was punished emphatically.[LNB] Jonas Gutierrez dawdled too long in his own half, John O'Shea fed Paul Scholes, and the evergreen midfielder fashioned a perfectly-weighted through ball to send Berbatov galloping clear on the right of the box.[LNB] The Bulgarian timed his run perfectly to ensure James Perch played him onside, before drilling a powerful low drive past Steve Harper's right hand.[LNB] The goal was somewhat out of keeping with Manchester United's limited threat to that point, and it served to underline just how profligate Newcastle had been when a glorious opportunity came their way as early as the 11th minute.[LNB] Chances were always going to be few and far between for the visitors, so it will have been with particular regret that Andy Carroll reflected on the header that sailed harmlessly past the left-hand post of Edwin van der Sar's goal.[LNB] Newcastle's new number nine out-muscled two Manchester United defenders to meet Joey Barton's left-wing corner on the edge of the six-yard box, but his headed effort never looked like finding the target.[LNB] Carroll did test Van der Sar with a long-range shot moments later, but by the time Newcastle threatened again, they were two goals down.[LNB] Berbatov's opener might have been the result of impressive attacking play, but Manchester United's second owed much to the kind of chaotic defending that was their opponents' Achilles heel two years ago.[LNB] The overlapping Patrice Evra drilled in a low cross from the left, Wayne Rooney prodded the ball on somewhat fortuitously, and Fletcher was afforded far too much space and room as he swivelled to score from inside the six-yard box. After starting so solidly, it was an alarmingly timid defensive collapse.[LNB] There were positives to Newcastle's display, most notably the relish with which Carroll entered into his physical battle with Nemanja Vidic and the sporadic counter-attacking threat provided by the lively Wayne Routledge, but a two-goal half-time deficit was always going to be all but impossible to overhaul.[LNB] The gap would have been three had the backtracking Perch not prevented Rooney's square ball from reaching Berbatov in the 53rd minute, and with the hosts gradually clicking into gear, the Bulgarian striker wasted another glorious opening moments later, prodding wide following a deft flick from the seemingly born-again Rooney.[LNB] England's biggest disappointment in South Africa was bombarded with a chorus of You let your country down as he was replaced by Javier Hernandez shortly after the hour mark, but there are already signs of him rediscovering something approaching his best form in the red of Manchester United.[LNB] Nani drilled a low shot narrowly past the post in the wake of Rooney's departure, but it was left to Giggs to apply the gloss to the scoreline with five minutes left.[LNB] The outstanding Scholes chipped the ball across the box, and fellow veteran Giggs dispatched a first-time volley into the bottom right-hand corner.[LNB] Match facts Goals: Berbatov (33, 1-0), Fletcher (41, 2-0), Giggs (85, 3-0)[LNB] Bookings: Barton (18, foul), Perch (22, foul), Scholes (52, foul), Fletcher (56, dissent)[LNB] Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens) 6[LNB] Attendance: 75,221[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] MAN UTD (4-4-2): Van der Sar 6; O'Shea 7, Vidic 6, Evans 6, Evra 6 (Rafael 87); Valencia 6, Fletcher 7, SCHOLES 8, Nani 6 (Giggs 71); Rooney 7 (Hernandez 63, 5), Berbatov 7. Subs (not used): Kuszczak (gk), Smalling, Carrick, Macheda.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Harper 6; Perch 5, WILLIAMSON 6, Coloccini 5, Enrique 6; Routledge 6, Smith 6, Barton 5, Gutierrez 4 (Xisco 81); Nolan 5 (Ameobi 71); Carroll 6. Subs (not used): Krul (gk), R Taylor, Tavernier, Vuckic, Ranger.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] PAUL Scholes the veteran midfielder ran the show in midfield and gave a glimpse of what might have happened had he said Yes' to Fabio Capello in the summer.[LNB]
