Forever Man Utd

Edgar was in action within 17 seconds of the kick-off to block a Neville cross as Giggs, Saha, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo made an immediate impact.

The home crowd took some delight when the Portuguese international blazed a left-foot shot hopelessly off target with three minutes gone, and they were equally vocal four minutes later when Edgar slid in to dispossess him wide on the right.

Newcastle mounted their first real attack a minute later when James Milner picked out Obafemi Martins' run down the left, but his cross was too strong for Sibierski.

And they had a let-off within seconds when Saha was given time to slide the ball inside right-back Nolberto Solano for Giggs and the Welshman fired across the face of goal.

However, it was Edwin van der Sar who was called on to make the game's first save on 13 minutes when Scott Parker's crunching tackle on Vidic sent the ball into Kieron Dyer's path and he ran through to fire in a firm shot which the Dutchman managed to beat away.

Rooney whistled a right-foot shot wide from 20 yards after starting a move involving Giggs and Saha on 20 minutes, but although the home side were repeatedly stretched, they were coping well.

Giggs picked out Saha's run into the box from the left and the Frenchman made excellent contact with his left-foot effort, but Given was equal to the task.

However, the keeper needed the help of Parker seconds later when the ball was helped on to Saha and he headed towards goal, the England midfielder reacted superbly to divert his attempt over the bar.

Saha could not hit the target with a clever back-heeled attempt after Giggs had tricked his way through down the right, but Van der Sar had to get down well to keep out another long-range Parker strike seconds later.

But the United keeper was beaten on 33 minutes after Milner cut inside from the left before blasting an unstoppable shot past the Dutch international.

It took a fine block from Given to deny the visitors an equaliser seven minutes before the break when Rooney got a touch on Ronaldo's cross, but they were level two minutes later.

Scholes, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Martins, picked up possession on the edge of the box and created half a yard for himself before firing low to Given's right.

The Magpies should have restored their lead on the stroke of half-time when Sibierski headed against Van der Sar's legs, but United broke swiftly and Ronaldo fired over before substitute Park clipped a post in injury time.

HT: Newcastle 1 Manchester United 1

Newcastle returned believing they were still in with a chance of collecting all three points, only to see their hopes suffer a major blow within 22 seconds.

Scholes picked up possession on the edge of the box and hammered a shot through Taylor's legs as he rushed out to meet the ball, and there was nothing the unsighted Given could do to prevent it searing past him and into the net.

United scented blood and went for the kill, and Given's goal came under sustained threat.

Huntington had to get in a brave block to keep out Darren Fletcher's 54th-minute shot and with the Magpies struggling to clear their lines, the midfielder headed over from a Giggs cross after the ball was played in once again from the right.

Newcastle could barely force their way out of their own half as the visitors surged forward relentlessly.

Neville went into referee Rob Styles' notebook for a foul on Milner on the hour, although Ferguson was perhaps more concerned with Rooney's condition as he underwent treatment after landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge.

Sibierski and Martins were trying desperately to give the home side a focal point in attack, but they were repeatedly outnumbered on the rare occasions they managed to get the ball into the danger area.

United were happy to get men behind the ball when Newcastle were in possession, content that their pace on the break would allow them to hit their opponents on the counter.

Sibierski needed extended treatment after a rugged 65th-minute challenge by Vidic, but he was able to continue.

FT Newcastle 2 Man Utd 2 Vidic saw a header from a 70th-minute Giggs corner blocked, but he was involved in an incident which led to the home crowd appealing for a penalty seconds later after he and Parker collided in the box.

But Newcastle got themselves back into it with 17 minutes remaining when Edgar let fly from 30 yards and saw his shot, with the help of a deflection off Scholes, nestle inside Van der Sar's left post.

United were not done and Rooney dragged a 78th-minute shot wide after being played in by substitute Michael Carrick.

But Solano had to head off his own line on 83 minutes after Ronaldo got his head to a Giggs corner and Park fired over a minute from time after being picked out by Ronaldo at the far post.

INTRO

Teenager David Edgar marked his home debut for Newcastle with a late equaliser to deny Manchester United a nine-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership table.

The 19-year-old central defender, playing at left-back, fired home from 30 yards with the help of a deflection off Paul Scholes after 77 minutes to snatch a point for the battling Magpies.

James Milner had given the home side a 33rd-minute lead with a superb strike, but a double from Paul Scholes either side of the break had put United in the driving seat.

Last update : 01-01-2007 18:18

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