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VODAFONE MATCH REPORT
Hat trick hero Paul Scholes
They continue to come thick and fast - big matches that is - and this latest one against Sir Bobby Robson´s Newcastle United at St James´ Park gave United opportunity to restore the title chase to a two horse race.
Newcastle´s defeat at Everton last Saturday checked their gallop and left them needing to beat United to give them an outside chance of snatching the title from under the noses of United and Arsenal, the hardy-annuals of the Premiership top of the table contest.
That´s a widely held belief and one that is backed up by none other than Magpies´ skipper Alan Shearer, who opened his programme notes with the following declaration: " If we don´t beat Manchester United today, the Championship will, I believe, be beyond us. As it is, it´s a tall order, especially after last week´s defeat at Everton. But if we win today, ten we´re definitely still in there battling with the two teams above us."
Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson has also as good as called time on his side´s title hopes but that wouldn´t stop him from wanting to put one over his old pal and fellow knight, Sir Alex Ferguson.
United were without England pair David Beckham ( hamstring) and Gary Neville, deposed to bench to make way for Wes Brown at right-back. A measure no doubt designed to prepare United´s defence for the Champions League return with Real Madrid in ten days. Gary Neville is, of course, sidelined after picking up a booking in the Bernabeu.
The haunting strains of Dire Straits´ ´Local Hero´ greeted the teams - as it always does at St James´ - on a bright, sunny early spring afternoon on Tyneside. There was little doubt that the locals knew that this could be the last throw of the dice for their favourites and they were going to give it their best shot.
The noise was quite something as the game began, but it was United who responded first with an immediate attack which in the end came to nothing.
There were a couple of minor altercations in the opening few minutes with Shearer tangling first with Roy Keane and then Mikael Silvestre. The latter needing treatment from physio Robert Swire before he could continue. Moments later, and Shearer was involved again, this time with John O´Shea and this one brought the former England skipper an early yellow-card.
The home crowd were pushing their team forward and in the 21st minute they got their fondest wish - the opening goal. United´s defence struggled to hold down a Magpies´ attack and when the ball ran to Jermaine Jenas he thumped it past Fabien Barthez´s outstretched arms and into the top corner of the net.
The St James´ Park crowd were understandably delighted with the goal, but it was only the pre-cursor to an amazing second spell of the first half.
United are not known for dwelling on setbacks and during the next 24 minutes they proceeded to turn the game on its head.
32 minutes ( 1-1): Ole Gunnar Solskjaer grabs the equaliser with a hooked shot past Newcastle keeper Shay Given after taking a pass from Ryan Giggs.
34 minutes ( 2-1): Paul Scholes rocks the home side with the second goal in as many minutes with Giggs again providing the assist.
38 minutes ( 3-1): Scholes again with an absolutely blistering shot after O´Shea´s equally powerful strike had rattled the Newcastle bar.
44 minutes ( 4-1): Giggs gets his reward for a great first half performance when he squeezes home United´s fourth goal.
A truly amazing spell of football that must rank with the last eleven minutes at Nottingham Forest a few years ago and that terrific second half performance at Tottenham last season.
Sir Alex was certainly well pleased with the team´s display, so much so that he decided that he was in the position to make some changes - no doubt with Wednesday´s big showdown against Arsenal in mind. Giggs remained in the dressing room after the break allowing Diego Forlan to come off the bench and O´Shea was replaced by Gary Neville four minutes into the half.
The changes did little to halt United´s onslaught for in the 52nd minute the score was raised to 5-1 after Solskjaer, Forlan and Gary Neville had combined to open up the home defence and present Scholes with the opportunity to complete his hat-trick.
United´s travelling supporters, none of whom could have honestly predicted an afternoon like this, were ecstatic. " Shearer for Sunderland," roared the Red fans as they started the celebrations early.
United had bagged five goals and none were recorded against Ruud´s name, but even that was rectified in the 58th minute when Titus Bramble felled Forlan, and referee Steve Dunn pointed to the spot. Ruud stepped up and scored from 12 yards. It was his third goal from the spot in as many Premiership games.
It goes without saying that United took their foot of the gas as the second half wore on, but that doesn´t mean there were no further chances. Forlan could have added to the score, as could Scholes. Newcastle also kept plugging away but this just wasn´t to be their day and, ultimately it seems, their season for the title.
Roy Keane had to come off with five minutes to go after a hefty challenge Shola Ameobi. United were left to finish the match with ten men. Keane´s injury; a dead leg, so he should be OK for Arsenal.
Newcastle gave their fans some cheer on 89 minutes with a goal from Ameobi, but the roar from the Newcastle supporters for a late comeback was most likely ironic.
As for United, Wednesday´s crunch match at Arsenal looms larger than ever with the Reds now three points clear at the head of the table.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given; Hughes, Woodgate, Bramble, Bernard; Solano ( luaLua, 66), Jenas, Dyer, Robert ( Viana, 15 ( Ameobi, 66)): Bellamy, Shearer. Subs not used: Griffin, Harper.
UNITED: Barthez; Brown ( Brown, 66), Ferdinand, Silvestre, O´Shea ( G Neville, 49); Solskjaer, Keane, Butt, Giggs ( Forlan, 46); Scholes; van Nistelrooy. Subs not used: P Neville, Ricardo.
Attendance: 52,164
