Perhaps the title race is not over after all.
Newcastle gave the pack chasing Manchester United some hope when they sent the
league leaders crashing to only their third Premiership defeat of the season at
St James' Park.
Alan Shearer scored twice and Duncan Ferguson once to do the damage, although
some of United's wounds were self-inflicted as Roy Keane was sent off for the
sixth time in his Old Trafford career.
The victory will be particularly sweet for Shearer, who has never been
forgiven by the United fans or boss Sir Alex Ferguson for turning down the
chance to join the club twice.
In the programme notes he claimed he could not see any other team but United
winning the league, but perhaps he was just indulging in some mind games a la
Ferguson. With Leeds now just three points behind United, he may yet change his
mind.
On a day when Andy Cole was expected to score what would have been his 100th
United goal against his former club, Shearer rewrote the script in spectacular
fashion.
His strikes in the 75th and 85th minutes took his tally for Newcastle for the
season to 23 and he is now just seven short of 300 career goals.
The win was easily Bobby Robson's best moment since taking over his beloved
Newcastle at the start of September and how fitting that the Magpies' saviour is
set to sign a new contract next week.
Newcastle had fancied their chances of throwing a spanner into United's
finely-tuned works and they went into the game unbeaten at home under Robson.
They had netted an impressive 39 goals in those 13 matches to climb away from
relegation trouble and their three against United just maintained that average.
Such a scoreline appeared unlikely at the start when United made a bright
opening to the game.
The fit-again Ryan Giggs found Paul Scholes unmarked on the right and he
centred for Teddy Sheringham, who steered the ball over the bar.
David Beckham's right foot was proving as troublesome as ever for the
opposition, but he got it all wrong when he ran in to meet Cole's cross and
fired over.
The busy Kevin Gallacher seemed to be everywhere and he almost caught Mark
Bosnich out with a shot from an acute angle on the left, but the United
goalkeeper recovered to make the save.
Gallacher then popped up in the other box when he made a terrific saving
tackle to halt Beckham as he ran through on goal.
In the main, though, it was United who were exerting most of the pressure only
for the game to turn on its head when Newcastle took the lead on 26 minutes
through Ferguson.
Warren Barton played the ball to Shearer on the right, who nodded it on for
the big Scot to turn and volley home an unstoppable effort from the corner of
the area.
Ferguson's ninth goal of the season spurred Newcastle on and Gallacher should
have done better when he shot wide from a good position before Kieron Dyer's
deflected cross hit the foot of the post.
Gallacher did better with a 30-yard drive, which whistled over the bar, before
Jaap Stam managed to get his vast bulk in the way to block a goalbound effort
from Ferguson.
Gary Speed, who was making his 100th appearance for Newcastle, wasted a good
chance when he volleyed wide from Mickael Silvestre's weak header.
Shearer directed a diving header over the bar before in stoppage time at the
end of the first half, the England skipper played Ferguson through on the left
only for the former Everton hitman to shoot over.
United's frustration was summed up when Keane, who had already been spoken to
by referee Steve Lodge, was booked for dissent.
Shearer followed Keane into Lodge's book when he was cautioned 10 minutes into
the second half.
Sir Alex Ferguson's temper was reaching boiling point and he vented his fury
on the fourth official after United had a corner refused and a penalty appeal
for handball rejected.
Cole thought he had equalised in the 61st minute when he lifted the ball over
Steve Harper only for the Newcastle goalkeeper to turn and grab the ball on the
line.
Keane was losing control and he escaped punishment for a lunge at Harper, but
he was not so fortunate 60 seconds later in the 64th minute when he cut down
Speed.
The United skipper did not even wait for Lodge to produce the yellow card and
then the red as he walked straight off the pitch.
Cole was also booked for dissent, while Scholes and Stam were later booked as
Lodge took the names of five United players.
Ferguson tried to reorganise his 10 men and he brought Nicky Butt on for Denis
Irwin off and played with just three at the back.
This left extra space for Newcastle to exploit and Speed shot just wide from
one chance on the left.
United switched to plan B when they replaced Sheringham with Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer, but it was the home side who scored next in the 75th minute.
Shearer advanced to the edge of the area from where he cracked home a low shot
into the far corner.
Shearer wasn't finished yet and five minutes from time he turned home
substitute Didier Domi's cross to complete a magical afternoon for the Toon
Army.
It was United's first defeat at St James' Park since their 5-0 drubbing in
October 1996, although their supporters will be quick to point out that they
went on to win the championship that season.
Teams:
Newcastle: Harper, Barton, Helder, Dabizas, Hughes, Lee, Dyer (Gavilan 83), Speed, Gallacher (Domi 83), Shearer, Ferguson (Ketsbaia 61).
Subs Not Used: Given, Fumaca.
Booked: Shearer.
Goals: Ferguson 26, Shearer 76, 86.
Man Utd: Bosnich, G. Neville, Silvestre, Stam, Irwin (Butt 69), Keane, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Sheringham (Solskjaer 74), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, P. Neville, Berg.
Sent Off: Keane (64).
Booked: Keane, Cole, Scholes, Stam.
Att: 36,470
Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).
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