Wayne Rooney's stunning second-half volley sparked a Manchester United comeback as Newcastle's sorry season lurches from bad to worse.

The Magpies looked set to fly home with their first Old Trafford win since 1972 after Darren Ambrose gave them an interval lead against a below-par United.

But they reckoned without Rooney, who met Peter Ramage's headed clearance with the sweetest of strikes which left Shay Given with absolutely no chance.

The effort is surely a contender for goal of the season, or any other, and it provided United with the break they desperately needed.

With renewed energy surging through their veins, United pressed Newcastle further and further back, and eventually they buckled as Wes Brown powered home his first Premiership goal, meeting Ryan Giggs' far post corner with a textbook header 17 minutes from time.

Victory came at a price for the hosts, who had Gabriel Heinze stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.

It did however allow them to close the gap on Arsenal to a single point in the battle for second and leave Newcastle grasping for some words of comfort from a campaign which is sliding towards a miserable conclusion.

After successive league defeats to Norwich and Everton either side of last weekend's FA Cup win over the Magpies, Sir Alex Ferguson chose his pre-match programme notes to state he would 'survive' the current turbulence, which has brought the first serious discussion over the Scot's future since supporters called for his head during a dismal home defeat to Crystal Palace in 1989.

Even if United were to lose all their remaining games this term, including next month's FA Cup Final, there would be no question of the Old Trafford board reviewing their managerial situation.

But, for all his phenomenal triumphs, Ferguson knows he is in a results business and, at a club whose unrivalled off-field success has been built almost entirely on what the team have achieved on it, recent history is simply not good enough.

There were no immediate signs of an improvement either as the hosts failed to test Given despite dominating the opening period.

The Irishman did save from Giggs and then twice from Rooney, but in truth they were routine efforts, even the near post feet-first block after England's teenage striker had stepped inside Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Newcastle were not much better, although, shorn of nine key men, Souness at least had an excuse.

But by the interval he had a goal to celebrate as Ambrose took maximum advantage of Tim Howard's latest blunder.

The American has done little wrong since replacing Roy Carroll in the aftermath of his howler against AC Milan, but his errors against Porto, Bolton, Lyon and Chelsea over the last year and a bit have not been forgotten, so his scuffed clearance from Phil Neville's back pass raised more doubts over his long-term suitability as first choice.

Ambrose still had plenty to do when he seized possession 25 yards out but sensing the United defence were temporarily off-guard, he drove forward quickly, shrugged off team-mate Charles N'Zogbia, then fired an superb shot into the bottom corner.

The loss of Heinze followed shortly afterwards, the Argentinian departing in agony after falling awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Shola Ameobi.

Amid all the concerns and disappointments, Heinze has been a major success story of United's season.

One of the few Red Devils to eclipse Heinze is Rooney. At times the £27million teenager seems to have carried the United attack on his own and he single-handedly dragged them back into the contest.

It was not so much the goal, more the manner of it, which sums up Rooney's extraordinary ability.

Had Ramage seen his headed clearance to Roy Keane's long ball fall to any other red shirt, he would probably have escaped.

As it was, Rooney watched the ball drop onto his right foot and unleashed a first-time volley of such accuracy and ferocity Given did not have a hope of keeping it out.

The shift in confidence was almost tangible and Newcastle barely offered a threat after that with even Kleberson, given half an hour to show a more positive element to his much-derided ability, looking good.

United eventually getting their winner was no surprise. Brown being the scorer was a minor sensation.

The defender's last - and only - goal from 179 previous appearances came against Juventus in 2003.

But it was Brown who rose to meet Ryan Giggs' far post corner and power a header in the top corner which just about keeps alive hopes of ending the campaign a single place behind Chelsea.

Teams

Man Utd Howard, Phil Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze (Ronaldo 37), Fletcher (Kleberson 61), Keane (Silvestre 76), Fortune, Giggs, Rooney, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Carroll, O'Shea.

Booked: Rooney.

Goals: Rooney 57, Brown 75.

Newcastle Given, Carr, Boumsong, Andrew O'Brien, Elliott, Milner, Ambrose, Ramage (Robert 82), N'Zogbia, Shearer (Kluivert 66), Ameobi.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Brittain, McClen.

Booked: Carr.

Goals: Ambrose 27.

Att: 67,845

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).