Newcastle hammer Manchester United with famous win inside St James’ Park

Newcastle 3-0 Manchester United

A high octane display from Newcastle saw them run out 3-0 winners over Manchester United inside a wind-wept St James’ Park, with goals from Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye setting the tone for a famous win that shakes up the title race.

Another Phil Jones own goal late on added insult to injury and ensured Alex Ferguson’s side were well and truly thumped on the night, suffering their second consecutive loss after the debacle against Blackburn on Saturday.

And it was Wayne Rooney, absent last weekend as a disciplinary rap on the knuckles by his club, who was perhaps guiltiest here of wasting United’s best chances to get something from the game.

Played in by a piercing through ball behind the Newcastle back-line by Ryan Giggs, the England forward somehow let the pass escape him and the ball rolled safely to a relieved Tim Krul in goal.

Alan Pardew’s side then duly made him pay for his profligacy with route-one football; Shoala Ameobi winning the flick on from a high ball which found Demba Ba in the box. With his back turned, and with Rio Ferdinand behind him, Newcastle’s top scorer somehow lashed a magnificent volley into the far corner of the net.

After half-time, Newcastle struck again almost immediately. Jones conceded a free-kick 30 yards from goal and Yohan Cabaye stepped up, firing a tremendous effort into the top corner of the net, with Anders Lindegaard powerless to stop its flight into his goal.

Rooney then had another chance after a goal-mouth scramble, but from 10-yards, the forward could only hammer his shot into the back of Danny Simpson, on the Newcastle goal-line.

It then looked like fate was against the champions after that chance, and the result was certainly confirmed on the 90th minute, when Jones somehow managed to nod a Krul clearance into his own net, with Lindegaard stranded.

Michael Landon

Other result:

Everton 1-2 Bolton Wanderers