Sorry United succumb on Tyneside; Newcastle United 3 Manchester United 0

Following their disappointing defeat at the hands of Blackburn on new years eve, United looked to quickly bounce back with a trip to St James’s Park to face Newcastle United. Having not lost to the Tyneside club since 2001, United were confident of reducing the 3 point gap on league leaders city to merely goal difference, going into the second half of the season. However, with Demba Ba having scored 14 goals already this season, United’s  defensive woes of late would have to subside in order to get a positive result. Rio Ferdinand alleviated some of the pressure by returning to the side along with Wayne Rooney, as Antonio Valencia continued at right back in an auxiliary role.

With a boisterous home crowd roaring them on, Newcastle began the game very brightly, putting pressure on Anders Lindegaard, replacing David De Gea, with a barrage of long balls into the penalty area. United however looked dangerous on the break, and brought the first save of the game as Nani’s curling effort was parried by Tim Krul, nearly into the path of the onrushing Rooney. The Portugese winger was beginning to find some joy down the right hand side, as United looked to break the deadlock, but the final ball was constantly letting the reds down. This was telling, as Giggs’ perfectly weighted through ball was poorly controlled by Rooney, who had the goal at his mercy if he could have brought the ball under. United were made to pay on the half hour mark, as an arrowing Tim Krul long ball was nodded on by Shoala Ameobi, and expertly volleyed home by Demba Ba past a helpless Lindegaard to leave United facing another mountain to climb at the half time interval.

Any words of wisdom issued at half time were quickly out the window, as Yohann Cabaye produced one of the goals of the season just 2 minutes after the restart, curling a sublime free kick from 30 yards into the top corner and all but condemning United to a second successive defeat. With their tails up, Newcastle ramped up the pressure on a creaking United, who instead of rallying in typical fashion to mount a classic comeback, appeared to be wilting. The introduction of Danny Welbeck brought some respite for United, who nearly found an unlikely way back into the game as Nani’s cross was flicked on by Welbeck to Rooney, whose side footed volley was frustratingly cleared off the line by ex red Danny Simpson, preventing an inevitable United siege in the final stages. For all their possession, United were failing to find the target with the frequency required to get back into the game, and with Demba Ba constantly harassing the United back four, the reds were unable to build sustained pressure from the back.

Another insipid United display culminated in a farce, as with only stoppage time remaining, a seemingly harmless long ball down the middle was nodded by Phil Jones into his own goal, leaving United well an truly beaten and 3 points off the pace at the top. Next up for United, the small matter of a trip to Eastland’s to face Manchester City in the FA cup 3rd round.

Ratings

Lindegaard – 5 Could do nothing for goals, but unconvincing display.

Valencia – 6 Attacking force but vulnerable defensively.

Ferdinand – 5 Couldn’t live with Ba’s movement and pace.

Jones – 3 Shocker, but will be back.

Evra – 4 Constantly exploited by Newcastle.

Nani – 4 Couldn’t get into the game.

Carrick – 5 Regressed back after positive performances.

Giggs – 4 Willing but not able.

Park – 4 Inept performance, not needed in these sorts of games.

Rooney – 3 Looked horribly out of sorts.

Berbatov – 3 Unlucky to not score with header, only touch in final 3rd however.

Subs

Welbeck – 6 Immediately improved attacking threat.

Hernandez – 4 Constantly offside.

Anderson – 5 Provided some drive.

LAW GIVES JOHN TERRY GROUND TO WORRY

JOHN TERRY’S career in Britain could effectively be ended by magistrates if he is found guilty of a racist offence at the end of what could be a six-month legal process.

 Since 1999, upon conviction of a disorder offence at a football ground, the court has been duty-bound by law to consider a Football Banning Order.

Such an act would prevent Terry, 31, from even attending a football ground for a minimum of three years.

Significantly, the FA have spoken out strongly in favour of such banning orders in the past for those convicted of racist crimes at football matches.

Yesterday, a spokesman confirmed that was still their stance where spectators were concerned. Chelsea defender Terry vehemently denies the charge and is adamant that he will “clear his name as quickly as possible” having been given a date for a first hearing at West London Magistrates Court on February 1.

Experts say a banning order is unlikely as it is liable to be challenged under a restraint of trade action. Yet it will not be brushed under the carpet. If the magistrates do decide not to go down that line, they “must in open court state that fact and give reasons”.

Manchester United loanee: I’m here to improve as a player

Federico Macheda, on loan at QPR from Manchester United, is looking to use his time with the west London club to improve as a player.

The 20-year-old admitted it will be hard to maintain a first team spot at Rangers given the talent the west London club possess.

The Italian, who burst onto the scene for the Red Devils with a last minute winner against Aston Villa in April 2009, has found it hard to break into the side.

Macheda came off the bench in the west London club’s defeat to Norwich and is in line for his first start against MK Dons in the FA Cup on Saturday.

“I came here to work very hard, fight for my place and hopefully make a good impression,” Macheda told the club’s official site.

“I think QPR has a good squad of players. I think we can improve and gain many points over the coming games.”

He added: “When I get on the pitch I will give my best.

“When I spoke to Sir Alex he said I need more playing time. There is more chance to play here than at United at the moment.

“The important thing now for me is QPR. We will see what happens in the future when I return to United.”

Chelsea still want me, confirms De Bruyne as Genk star holds out for transfer

Chelsea are still in the hunt for Belgian star Kevin de Bruyne, according to the man himself.

The Blues were keen to take the talented 20-year-old to Stamford Bridge during the summer but refused to meet Genk’s asking price.

The failure to agree a fee caused the deal to collapse, leaving De Bruyne with the Belgium league runners-up for at least a few more months.

Wanted: Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Genk before next season

Now the midfielder, who best operates in a wide attacking position, has revealed Chelsea will be come back for him before the start of next season.

He said: ‘Chelsea are still interested in me and already have a plan in place for me. Staying at Genk for another season is not an option for me. Chelsea were serious about signing me but maybe Genk’s asking price was too high.’

De Bruyne failed to impress in two games against Andre Villas-Boas’s side in the Champions League earlier this season.

Ahead of the second meeting in Belgium, De Bruyne had said: ‘I will think about only doing my best for Genk. ‘My “relationship” with Chelsea is not important. Nothing is signed yet, we will see.’

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.”