Manchester United refuse to “panic” after shock defeat to Newcastle

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted there was no need for panic after seeing his Manchester United side humbled at Newcastle United.

The Magpies ensured that arch rivals Manchester City remain three points clear at the top of the table by beating the champions 3-0 on Tyneside as the run of surprise results for the main contenders over the holiday period continued.

However, Ferguson was taking a measured approach when asked about the impact of a potentially costly defeat.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s not a time to panic or anything like that. We have got the experience to cope with that.

“Losing a game at this time of the year, you don’t want it, but it sometimes can happen – you have seen some of the results recently.

“But obviously, we need to get the show on the road in terms of the run-in, particularly in March and April.”

Even with Wayne Rooney back from his exile and Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs also restored to the starting line-up, United were able to make little impression on a Newcastle side looking for just their second win in nine league games.

Striker Demba Ba, in his last game for the club before heading off to the African Nations Cup with Senegal, blasted the home side ahead with a delicious 33rd-minute volley – his 15th goal of the season.

With Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote, who will also be on duty in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, determined to sign off in style, the home side were good value for their half-time lead, and there was further cause for celebration within two minutes of the restart.

Arsenal cup date is welcome distraction for Grayson

AFTER a rollercoaster few days left Leeds United where they started before the holidays – a point behind the play-off places in the Npower Championship – it is FA Cup time again with the Whites looking to pull off another giantkilling at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Monday night, writes Tony Harber.

Whether this United side is playing well enough to make lightning strike again after earning a highly creditable draw away to Arsenal in last year’s FA Cup – only to lose despite a heroic effort in the replay at Elland Road – is debatable, but the competition and glamour tie will provide a welcome distraction for under pressure manager Simon Grayson.

The way he danced down the touchline in celebration at Ross McCormack’s injury-time winner against Burnley on Monday showed just how relieved he was at his side ending their run of three defeats.

With some pundits predicting the sack for the manager if another defeat had followed the fast becoming annual Oakwell horror show against Barnsley on Saturday the ultimately deserved 2-1 victory over Burnley ought to have bought Grayson some time. And if he can now plot a shock to rival the win over Manchester United and draws at Arsenal and Tottenham in the cup in the last two seasons he can only improve his standing.

Grayson will look to name as strong a side as possible for the trip to the Emirates and may have a couple back after they missed the New Year games with defender Tom Lees (head injury) and winger Robert Snodgrass (appendix operation) hoping to be back in contention.

Both are racing against time to be ready, however, and United could face a defensive crisis with only one fit centre-back following Monday’s match when two players suffered injuries and whoever plays can expect to be up against Arsenal legend Thierry Henry following his return to the Gunners.

The cup tie has been earmarked for his second time around debut and although he has lost a yard of the devastating pace he once had his presence in the home team will ensure a big match atmosphere.

Grayson confirmed that he may be forced to go into the transfer or loan market to shore up his defence.

He said: “Darren O’Dea is our only fit centre-half at this moment in time.

“Alex Bruce has done his hamstring, Paddy Kisnorbo has injured his knee. Leigh Bromby’s out two or three weeks with a calf injury and Tom Lees missed out (against Burnley) with a head injury.

“We’re hopeful that Tom will be available for the Arsenal game, but we are under doctor’s orders basically.

“It’s an area that we going to have to strengthen very soon.

“There are other priorities on the pitch and we’ve got some money to try and do some business with. We’ll try and spend the money wisely with what we’ve got available.

“We’ve got quite a big squad here and we’re looking to move one or two players out to pastures new and that will free up some capital for players we need to bring in to affect the first team.

“The players we bring in have got to be better than the ones we already have here. We’ve got a good bunch, but we need to add to it to make us better.”

After a serious blip when Leeds picked up only one point and only scored two injury-time goals in their previous four games, Grayson was pleased to get back to winning ways against Burnley in the first game of 2012.

He added: “We’ve stopped the rot, but we know we’ve still got a lot of work to do on the training pitch with the players we’ve got and new players coming in. Hopefully we can kick on now.

“With five minutes to go, we were staring down the barrel of another defeat. But I thought we played well and had enough chances.

“The work-rate was really good, we closed them down, got balls into the box and just didn’t get the breaks. But we kept going right to the end.

“It’s a massive result for everybody. We’re at home, we don’t want to get adrift of the play-off positions and it’s important we win football matches.

“The players showed immense character. We had players that came into the team and did very well. Zac Thompson was excellent for a young kid, he started in central midfield and switched to right-back. Andros Townsend gave us something we’d not had over the last few weeks – somebody who can carry the ball and run at defenders.”

Ferguson not panicking despite Newcastle rout

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted it’s not time to panic despite admitting Manchester United had handed the Premier League title initiative back to Manchester City.

A stunned Ferguson saw his side suffer a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, condemning them to back-to-back league losses for the first time in 10 months to remain in second, three points adrift of Roberto Mancini’s leaders, while holding the same advantage over Tottenham Hotspur, in third.

The Manchester rivals meet in the FA Cup this weekend, but Ferguson’s thoughts remain on his attempts to stretch City’s 44-year wait for the English top flight crown, and the Scot said: “Of course it is advantage City. We had our opportunity, they played last night and won, so it’s advantage to them.

“The one plus for me is we had two or three players back, and maybe that can make the difference. It’s not a time to panic, we have the patience and experience to cope.”

Ferguson insists his defending champions’ title know-how will help them in the long-run this season, and he added: “Losing a game down the years, you don’t want it to happen, but it does, and you see that with some of the results lately. But we’ll take the show on the road, particularly in March and April.”

Newcastle’s Ryan Taylor (L) and Manchester United’s Patrice Evra
Graham Stuart, AFP/Getty Images

Phil Jones’ embarrassing injury-time own goal completed United’s misery, after stunning goals in each half from Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye set Newcastle on the way to a first home win in two months to cement their hold on seventh place.

Wayne Rooney failed to shine on his return after a one-game suspension and hefty fine for flouting a club curfew over Christmas, as United were shut out for the first time this season.

Ferguson added: “We started reasonably well, and we had a good chance when Wayne was through and the ball ran under his foot. But then Newcastle scored a fantastic goal, and it really picked everyone up in the stadium.

“They got really aggressive against us and made it difficult. It was a marvellous volley and then the second goal just before half time was a killer. We didn’t make enough of our possession, it was one of those nights.

“Newcastle have very strong lads up front, they’re very aggressive and a real handful. But the story of the game was two fantastic strikes. There was no chance anybody would have saved them, they were two fantastic strikes.”

Newcastle lose 15-goal top scorer Ba and the equally influential midfielder Cheik Tiote to African Cup of Nations duty for the next month, and manager Alan Pardew admitted: “I’m not going to hide the fact that Demba and Cheik were our two outstanding players tonight, and we’re going to miss them while they’re away.

“In addition to his goal, Demba’s all-round display was outstanding, and it was as good a display as he’s produced since he’s been here.

“But you have to say what a way to sign off, and we look forward to welcoming them back in six or so games time. It’s a great result, we stayed on top of United, and didn’t let them play. We were due a win at home against one of the big Premier League sides, but now we’ve done that, we mustn’t get carried away.”

Man Utd on alert for Chelsea target Cahill

Manchester United are on alert after Gary Cahill’s expected move to Chelsea has stalled.

Bolton had agreed a £7million fee with the Londoners for the England centre-back.

But the 26-year-old’s representatives have failed to agree personal terms at a first meeting with Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas revealing on Friday that the club and Cahill were “miles apart” over wage demands.

Chelsea are offering £70,000 a week, while Cahill is seeking £100,000 a week.

Cahill is reportedly unhappy that he has been portrayed in the wrong light and is now having second thoughts about moving to Stamford Bridge.

Now United could make a move to bolster their injury-hit defence, according to The Sun.

Manager Alex Ferguson is minus captain Nemanja Vidic for the season, while Rio Ferdinand has struggled with injury problems.

Chris Smalling and the Da Silva twins have also been sidelined, while Phil Jones has been operating more in midfield of late.

Ferguson has insisted he has the money to spend in this month’s transfer window but added he would not enter the market unless the right player became available.

Chelsea are the only club to have made a firm bid for Cahill, although it is believed Tottenham will step in if the move falls through, according to the London Evening Standard.

Spurs have been interested in Cahill for some time and were already looking at signing another centre-half during the transfer window.

The club will only make a move if the Chelsea deal collapses completely because they are determined not to get involved in a bidding war with their London rivals.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle was delighted with Cahill’s performance. He was given the captain’s armband despite the ongoing talks with Chelsea and was rewarded when the defender bagged the winner.

Coyle said: “I think that showed the focus and desire Gary Cahill has to play.

“I wouldn’t expect any less. When you work with someone day-to-day you get to know them as a player but more importantly you get to know them as a person and Gary is a nice, genuine person.

“Chelsea have respected the fact that they didn’t want Gary thinking about other things, but I’m led to believe there will be further dialogue in the next few days.

“If that’s the case, then it’s great for Gary and obviously we adjust from there.”

John Terry considers legal action over image use

John Terry is considering taking legal action after an image resembling the Chelsea and England captain appeared on cigarette packets in India.

A blurred image of a person looking like the footballer has appeared on the packets above a “smoking kills” warning.

A spokesman for Elite Management, which represents Terry, said no permission had been given for the use of the defender’s image in promotion of an anti-smoking drive in India.

Their statement read: “It’s been brought to our attention that an image of our client (Terry) has been used on some cigarette packaging without our consent or knowledge. We’ve now instructed

Arsenal forward wants more goals in 2012

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott is targeting more goals this season, although he is happy with the number of assists he has.

The Gunners star has four goals to his name in all competitons, although he also has four assists in the Premier League this season.

“I had quite a good scoring year in 2011 with a lot of assists, which I’m happy with,” Walcott told Arsenal Player.

“This season I think I need to get in among the goals a bit more maybe – I only have four.

“But I’m happy if the team’s winning and I’m getting assists for the main man up front.

“I’m doing my job and you have to be effective going forward. That’s what I’ve been doing so far.”