Newcastle United – Manchester United

1. Can Newcastle score? Can they create a chance? Will the Red Devils claw closer to rampant Chelsea? All the answers are here from 16:00 BST

2. The players are lining up in the tunnel. Shearer glances over at Keane, who stands firm and strong, like an old oak tree, next to him.

3. An enormous roar greets the players as they emerge out in to the spotlight. The stadium is packed and rocking.

4. It is a bright, dry afternoon in Newcastle. The pitch looks in superb condition; perfect conditions for good football.

5. 1'

   Newcastle start the game. They appear to have adopted the fashionable 4-5-1 formation, mirrored by their opponents. New signing Luque begins on the left wing.

6. 2'

   Van Nistelrooy looks sharp and alert this season, and he immediately puts Parker under a little pressure on the egdge of his own penalty box.

7. 3'

   The referee today is Howard Webb. He has a shaved head and is stout of frame, and yet he skips around the field like a schoolgirl.

8. 4'

   Sven-Goran Eriksson is spotted in the stands. He names his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifyers against Wales and Northern Ireland later this evening.

9. 4'

   Rooney wins his side a free kick, out on the right touchline, around 35 yards from goal. Ferdinand trots forward from the back, as Scholes stands over the ball...

10. 4'

    ...Poor delivery from Scholes; over-hit and too deep towards the back post. Ronaldo is bundled over as he attempts to retrive the ball, but the referee indicates 'play on'.

11. 5'

    Babayaro does well to block off O'Shea as the full-back attempted to round him and swing over a cross.

12. 6'

    A lack of concentration from Dyer ends a Newcastle attack as he loses possession out on the right touchline.

13. 7'

    Van Nistelrooy is a little late in a challenge with Taylor, Newcastle's young centre-back. But there are no hard-feelings; a handshake and a smile later, and we're all friends again.

14. 8'

    Rooney seems to have been given something of a free reign; he is drifting all over the pitch in the early stages.

15. 9'

    It's been something of a cagey opening from both sides, with neither really pushing forward with any conviction.

16. 10'

    Carr swings over a cross from a deep position out on the right, but Luque can't climb high enough at the back post to get a head on the ball.

17. 11'

    Newcastle are enjoying a short spell of pressure on their opponents' goal, and Bowyer's turn-and-shot in the area wins his side a corner when it is deflected wide of the post.

18. 11'

    Oooh! Shearer wins the header from the corner, and directs the ball back towards the near post, though Luque can't stretch his leg far enough to divert the ball goalwards.

19. 12'

    GOAL! NO! Babayaro fires a low cross in to the middle, Shearer shoots with his left-foot, Van der Sar saves and Luque turn the ball home. But Newcastle's new signing is a couple of yards off-side.

20. 13'

    Oooh! Ronaldo skips past his marker in the middle of the park and starts heading goalwards. Van Nistelrooy makes a good run to the right, but the young winger decides on a shot. Given is down well to save.

21. 14'

    Shearer is upset not to win a free-kick decision when he is held down by Silvestre as they attempted to get up from the turf and sprint after a loose ball.

22. 15'

    Newcastle have had much the better of the last five minutes or so, passing the ball swiftly and decisively and getting plenty players forward to suppor their attacks.

23. 16'

    Parker is doing a good job for his side, sat in front of the back four and directing play with his intelligent passing, whilst Emre and Bowyer dart around in front of him.

24. 17'

    The pace of the game has dropped a little over the last couple of minutes, whilst Manchester United gather themselves and try to reorganise.

25. 18'

    There is quite a lot of pressure on Graeme Souness at the moment following a difficult summer in the transfer market and a poor start to the season. He will be desperate for a positive result this afternoon.

26. 19'

    Emre shows some nice touches on the ball in midfield and tries to get Babayaro away on the left. A strong challenge from O'Shea ends the danger, though there are some good signs for the home side.

27. 19'

    Newcastle win another corner when Keane is forced to head out a long throw, but Emre's corner drifts out of play before reaching Taylor at the back post.

28. 20'

    Bowyer is strong in the challenge as he robs Ronaldo of the ball in his own half.

29. 21'

    Newcastle suffer a injury blow when Emre goes down clutching his hamstring, the injury which has kept him out of the last couple of games.

30. 22'

    SUB: Jenas on, Emre off. The Turkish international hobbles off the field with the aid of the Newcastle physio, and young England star Jenas trots on to replace him.

31. 23'

    Jenas wasn't given the warmest of receptions from the Newcastle faithful; there are plenty rumours that the classy midfielder is seeking a move away from the club.

32. 24'

    Bowyer fouls Scholes as he attempts to rob the little ginger star on the half-way line. United take the free-kick quickly as they attempt to work a way in to this game.

33. 25'

    Luque fouls Rooney on the right touchline. It has been an impressive opening to his debut from the Spaniard; he's not been afraid to put himself about and is working very hard.

34. 26'

    A nice, swift move from Manchester United; Rooney spreads the play out to O'Shea, who lofts a cross towards Ronaldo at the back post. The ball is deflected out for a corner.

35. 27'

    The corner is worked out to the corner of the box where Fletcher strikes a right-foot shot high over Given's cross-bar.

36. 28'

    An awful touch from Dyer sees the ball escape his control and run out of play. He has looked a little out-of-sorts in the first half-hour.

37. 29'

    United win another corner when Fletcher's cross is turned behind by Boumsong, with Van Nistelrooy looming behind him.

38. 30'

    Scholes clips a nice ball through the middle towards Van Nistelrooy, but Taylor stays strong to shepherd the ball back to his goalkeeper.

39. 31'

    Again, a lofted ball through the middle needs good strong defending from Boumsong and Taylor in order to keep Van Nistelrooy from profitting.

40. 32'

    Silvestre stays down on the grass after a challenge with Shearer. The indication from the United players is that the Newcastle man caught the French defender with his forearm; if he did, it was certainly accidental.

41. 33'

    Shearer is throwing himself about at the moment; he is still simmering from an earlier challenge when he feels that he caught an elbow in the face.

42. 33'

    Ronaldo is booked after a late, silly challenge on Parker. The winger was angry that he had not been awarded a foul just moments earlier.

43. 34'

    Ferguson was incensed by the decision to book Ronaldo; the United manager feels, like his young Portuguese star, that the free-kick should have gone the way of his side, not Newcastle's.

44. 35'

    Ronaldo is caught off-side, but it was a very close decision; Carr almost played him on, and Ronaldo would have been clean through had the Newcastle defender not stepped-up at the last moment.

45. 36'

    Although there hasn't been a great deal of goal-mouth action in this first half, the game certainly has an edge about it at the moment.

46. 37'

    Newcastle prepare to make a second, unscheduled substitution, with Ameobi stripping off his tracksuit.

47. 38'

    Oooh! Superb save from Given with his legs as Ronaldo sprinted on to Van Nistelrooy's cute through-ball.

48. 38'

    SUB: Ameobi on, Dyer off. Like Emre, Dyer was coming back in to this game from injury, and like Emre, the gamble hasn't paid off: both have departed the action.

49. 39'

    Parker is again neat and tidy as he breaks up a United attack, and begins another for Newcastle. The former Chelsea man could find himself in the England squad, announced later this evening.

50. 40'

    Oooh! Bowyer loses possession inside his own half, but Ronaldo's shot from 25 yards flies just wide of Given's far post.

51. 40'

    Luque wins his side a corner when he shows good strength down near the flag. Bowyer takes it, but his delivery is poor; far too deep to cause any real concern.

52. 41'

    Ameobi is tugged back by Heinze as he broke down the right channel. Free-kick, in a dangerous position, right on the corner of the penalty area...

53. 41'

    ...Luque lashes a left-foot shot goalwards, but Rooney gets in the way of the effort and defelects the ball out for a corner.

54. 41'

    Luque sprints over to take the set-piece, and his delivery is excellent; right in to the danger area, though Van der Saar comes out to punch the ball clear.

55. 43'

    Another off-side flag halts a United attack. Neither side has imposed themselves properly on the game in this first-half - it's still in the balance.

56. 44'

    Oooh! Luque flies in at the far post to get on the end of Carr's cross from the right, though his ambitious flying volley ends up in the stands.

57. 44'

    Ameobi shows good speed and strength to collect Jenas' pass through the middle, but his distribution is poor and the attack is broken up.

58. 45'

    HALF-TIME: A good save from Given keeps the game at a stalemate. Both sides have put in a lot of effort and committment, and the second-half promises much.

59. 45'

    United kick-off the second half. No changes during the break, from either side. United will be hoping for a little more going forward in this second half, I think.

60. 46'

    Oooh! Scholes flashes a shot narrowly wide of Given's far post after getting on the end of Fletcher's short pass on the edge of the area.

61. 47'

    O'Shea robs Babayaro on the left wing, but then the Irishman immediately gives the ball back to Newcastle with a sloppy pass.

62. 47'

    There seems to be a lot more space at the start of the second half, the play is a little more stretched and open; that bodes well for an entertaining 45 minutes.

63. 48'

    Luque tries to take the ball down in the area, but Ferdinand is tight to him and the debut-boy loses control.

64. 49'

    Apparently, Dyer might have torn his hamstring in that first half; he is going for a scan tomorrow, but could be facing a long time out on the sidelines.

65. 50'

    Ameobi tries to dance his way past O'Shea, but there is no way around the burly yong defender and United break up the attack.

66. 51'

    Luque swings in a left-foot free-kick, but Heinze throws himself at the ball to prevent Boumsong getting on the end of it.

67. 52'

    Rooney and Carr collide as they challenged for a ball in the air. The young United lion appeared to take an elbow to the head, and he stays down on the turf for a moment or two.

68. 53'

    United mount a nice move as they break towards the Newcastle goal, but Ronaldo's low pass in to the area is mis-directed and the home side clear.

69. 54'

    Newcastle have yet to score in the Premiership this season, and they haven't shown a great deal of invention in the final third thus far this afternoon, either.

70. 55'

    SUB: Another limping Newcastle player departs the action. Bowyer off, Faye on. It seems as though Newcastle have suffered a third injury to a midfielder.

71. 56'

    That third substitution means that Luque will have to play the full 90 minutes, despite some concerns about his match-fitness coming in to the game.

72. 57'

    Fletcher fouls Luque, 45 yards out. The Spaniard stays down for a moment, and he already looks a little tired.

73. 57'

    Parker loses possession in the United half, but then shows great determination to sprint back and put a tackle in on Van Nistelrooy to win the ball back for his side.

74. 58'

    Oooh! Scholes spreads play wide to O'Shea, who swings a great ball in to the middle. Van Nistelrooy is unmarked, eight yards out, but he plants his header wide.

75. 59'

    News from the Newcastle bench is that Bowyer was suffering from a groin injury; that was the reason for his substitution a few moments ago.

76. 60'

    United are trying to put a little pressure on their hosts and inject a bit more life in to the game, but Newcastle are standing firm.

77. 60'

    Shearer wins his side a corner when he runs at Silvestre in the corner. The crowd briefly become animated at the prospect, though their excitement soon disappates.

78. 61'

    Ameobi fouls Heinze with a clumsy challenge near the corner flag. A silly tackle, considering that the United defender was under pressure and going nowhere.

79. 62'

    Luque is fouled by Keane, who isn't convinced that the referee was correct to award a free-kick.

80. 63'

    The game has become a bit scrappy over the last ten minutes or so, with a lot of fouls really disrupting the rhythm and flow.

81. 64'

    Fletcher controls Van Nistelrooy's cross-field pass before looping over a cross towards the Dutchman, who had made a good run in to the middle, but there is too much on the centre, and the ball runs out of play.

82. 65'

    Both sides are playing with a lot of determination and strength, but they are cancelling each other out at the moment - and there has been a real lack of quality in the final third from both sides.

83. 65'

    GOAL! Rooney capitalises on a mistake from Boumsong, sprints on to the loose ball and smashes past Given from just inside the area.

84. 66'

    The goal came from a long clearance from Van Der Saar, which Boumsong allowed to bounce, giving Rooney the chance to steal in and smash past the goalkeeper.

85. 67'

    Carr is very lucky when the referee fails to spot him pulling back Ronaldo as the two sprinted on to another long ball down the middle. The United player is livid, as he was clean through on goal.

86. 68'

    Newcastle are going to struggle to get themselves back in to this game; they have been a little clueless going forward so far, and now they have to contend with a United side defending a lead.

87. 69'

    Parker is booked for a tackle from behind on Ronaldo. He didn't really catch the United man, but it was a clumsy challenge from the Newcastle midfielder.

88. 70'

    Newcastle face the prospect of going in to the international break with one point from their first four matches - a terrible return.

89. 71'

    United are taking a firm grip on the game; now that they have the lead, they are content playing the ball about the back four and letting Newcastle come to them.

90. 72'

    Oooh! Van Nistelrooy is booked for diving in the penalty area. The striker tried to round Given, who went to ground as he attempted to lunge for the ball. Tough call; difficult to say whether there was any contact.

91. 73'

    Replays show that there might have been some contact between Given and Van Nistelrooy. Penalties have certainly been given for less. Instead, the United man was cautioned.

92. 74'

    Rooney is really getting on the nerves of the Newcastle players and fans, but he is doing a great job for his side at the moment; putting himself about and working very hard.

93. 75'

    United are just knocking the ball about themselves, without Newcastle putting them under any pressure at all. They are in full control of the match at the moment.

94. 76'

    Ameobi is playing as more of a second striker, alongside Shearer, though Luque has become almost anonymous in the last ten minutes or so.

95. 77'

    Ronaldo is floored by Carr, but again the referee allows play to go on. Webb has a reputation for being quite lenient in regards to contact, but some of the things he has let go have been borderline muggings.

96. 78'

    Luque swings in a left-footed free-kick from the right-hand side, but it is a foot or so too high for the multitude of bodies in the United penalty area.

97. 79'

    Ronaldo shows a few tricks on the touchline, inviting Babayaro and Taylor to dive in - the Newcastle defenders oblige, and United win a free-kick. Clever play from Ronaldo.

98. 80'

    Scholes takes his time over the taking of the set-piece, really annoying the Newcastle fans. When the ginger playmaker finally does whip the ball in, it is deflected out for a corner.

99. 81'

    Again, United are content to play the ball amongst their back four, and Newcastle can do nothing to win possession back from their visitors.

100. 82'

     O'Shea fouls Luque on the half-way line. The Spaniard looks very tired at the moment, but Newcastle have made all their changes and he'll have to stay on until the final whistle.

101. 83'

     Carr gets to the by-line and clips over a promising cross, but Van der Saar comes off his line to take it high above his head.

102. 84'

     Keane and Jenas clash in the United penalty area as the United captain attempted to clear the ball. The two smile, knowingly at each other, and play goes on.

103. 85'

     SUB: Fletcher, Ronaldo off; Park and Smith on. United make a couple of changes as they try to close out the match. Smith will sit in midfield and put himself about, trying to break up any Newcastle attacks; Park will be allowed to roam up front.

104. 86'

     Newcastle haven't looked remotely like getting this equaliser. They haven't offered anything going forward in this second half.

105. 87'

     A cross from the left is met by Shearer, though his header from 14 yards out flies over the crossbar. It would have taken something special to score with his head from there.

106. 88'

     Newcastle win a free-kick in a dangerous position as Silvestre climbs all over Shearer as they contested a header. Luque stands over the ball...

107. 89'

     ...He goes for goal, but Van der Saar collects his left-foot shot easily. It was a little too far out for Luque.

108. 90'

     United are masters at closing out matches like this; they keep possession so well, frustrating the opposition and denying them the chance to attack.

109. 91'

     GOAL! A superb break down the right from Rooney, who then clips a perfect ball in to the middle. Boumsong misses the cross, Van Nistelrooy controls it before poking past Given.

110. 92'

     A third league goal this season for Van Nistelrooy, who has started very well. He looks sharp and dangerous and back to his best.

111. 93'

     Oooh! Luque does brilliantly to control a long ball in to the area and beat his marker, but his shot from six yards is horribly mis-hit and dribbles wide.

112. 93'

     FULL-TIME: Not a great game, but United stepped up a gear when they needed to and won comfortably. Newcastle showed a lot of spirit, and weren't helped by injuries to three of their midfielders, but they lack ideas up front.

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