Premier League: Manchester United v Newcastle United full time report
Man Utd 3 Newcastle 0
Manchester United eased to simple victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, as their bid to win back the Premier League title from Chelsea got off to the perfect start.
After a laboured opening half an hour, Dimitar Berbatov latched onto a Paul Scholes pass to fire his side in front, before Darren Fletcher prodded in a second from close range after Patrice Evra’s fizzed cross wasn’t cleared.
The home side controlled a relatively low-key second period, and put the finishing touches to the win when veteran substitute Ryan Giggs brilliantly volleyed Scholes’ flighted pass into the bottom corner of the net.
Newcastle offered little going forward, although – with the game still goalless – forward Andy Carroll should have done better with a free header from Joey Barton’s early corner.
It was all too easy for the hosts, who could and should have won by more on a night when they were slow to get going.
Early on, Wayne Rooney linked up well with Nani and fired over, before Carroll missed a glorious chance at the other end as, unmarked from Barton’s corner, he rose well but headed wide from just six yards out.
Only a fantastic block from Mike Williamson denied Rooney from connecting with an Antonio Valencia cross, before Carroll was involved again at the other end, firing straight at Edwin van der Sar from distance after linking up well with Jonás Gutiérrez.
Barton – sporting a moustache that he says he won’t shave off until Newcastle’s first league win of the season – was soon in the book for a rash challenge on Nani, but the hosts were unable to make anything of the free kick as their laboured opening continued.
Their only opportunities were coming from either free kicks or defensive errors, but they weren’t making the most of them. After Newcastle debutant James Perch was booked for tangling with Nani, Rooney’s poor free kick slammed straight into the wall, before an error from Fabricio Coloccini forced central defensive partner Williamson into an excellent sliding challenge on Nani.
The home side appeared to be finally warming to their task after half an hour, and after Berbatov nodded down an Valencia cross to Rooney, the England forward lashed a left footed effort wildly over the bar.
The goal was around the corner though, and after Gutiérrez needlessly gave the ball away deep inside his own half, Scholes’ pass was inadvertently flicked into the path of Berbatov by José Enrique – who should have cut it out – and the Bulgarian was left with the simple task of firing the ball across Steve Harper and into the bottom corner.
Newcastle attempted to respond, but nothing came of good opportunities for Gutiérrez and Barton to cross, before the home side extended their advantage shortly before the break amid yet more lax defending.
The ball was worked to Patrice Evra wide on the left flank, and after his driven cross was deflected into the path of Rooney, the forward fluffed an effort that went straight to Fletcher, who held off the attentions of Coloccini and prodded home.
The goal effectively killed off the game, and the home side started the second half in confident mood.
Only a last ditch block from Perch stopped Berbatov from being played in by Rooney, before the Bulgarian missed a sitter when successfully played clean through by the England man shortly after. He could only prod wide when brilliantly found by a Rooney flick.
Carroll was still causing a few problems at the other end, and he tested van der Sar from distance before heading an Enrique cross wide, before the Old Trafford crowd was on its feet for the withdrawal of Rooney – who is now without a goal in 13 matches for club and country – and the introduction of Mexican Javier Hernández for a Premier League debut.
Nani curled a shot wide, Evra drove a cross across the face of goal and Berbatov missed an extravagant overhead kick, but it all too easy for Ferguson’s men now, with Scholes in particular to the fore.
Giggs replaced Nani as United continued to come forward with ease, and the veteran midfielder put the crowning gloss on his side’s victory with a superb volley from Scholes’ flighted pass. In doing so, Giggs continued his record of scoring in every single Premier League season.
Such is his record and United’s dominance over the years, he would have played in matches as simple as this one was for Ferguson’s men.
As a curtain raiser to their season it was perfect, but there will be much tougher tasks ahead.
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