Manchester United surrendered their six-month Premiership lead to Arsenal -
and Alex Ferguson must know his crown is going with it.
The Reds had been top of the pile since smashing seven past Barnsley here at
Old Trafford on October 25.
But Fergie and his men would have swapped six of those for just one more today
as they were lucky to get away with even one point.
Even after a flying header from David Beckham cancelled out Andreas
Andersson's controversial opener - the Swede sliding home when all of
OldTrafford expected a flag - the Reds were never fluent, never convincing.
While Ferguson's side had plenty of chances, the better opening came atthe
other end, Alan Shearer feeling he might have had a hat-trick, Warren Barton
hitting the post, other openings going begging.
The champions, who lost Peter Schmeichel after 18 minutes, came at the death,
substitute Ole Solskjaer and Gary Pallister denied by the men in black and
white.
Where Ferguson had hoped that Arsenal would hit a "brick wall" it was
hisside that were blocked off at the championship pass.
To add insult to injury, Solskjaer was rightly sent off in the final minute
for a professional foul on Rob Lee after the home side had been caught upfield.
But Old Trafford knows the writing really is on the wall now. Only an Arsenal
slip-up that seems so unlikely can allow them to hold onto the title.
That the match should turn into such a struggle would never have been
envisaged by the way the champions tore into the visitors in the opening
minutes.
Ferguson had opted to gamble on Ryan Giggs' hamstring and play Teddy
Sheringham instead of Paul Scholes, and the home side flew at Dalglish's men.
Inside the first minute, link play between Andy Cole and Giggs almost opened
Newcastle up, then Sheringham fed Phil Neville, who shot at Shay Given from 15
yards.
Cole was close with a long-range chip as the Reds were rampant, and although
the sight of Schmeichel unable to take goal-kicks was ominous, they remained in
charge, Pallister heading over.
But all changed totally as Old Trafford was stunned into silence in the11th
minute.
Lee rolled a free-kick to Batty, who moved to his right, looked up and clipped
back into the left side of the box.
As Speed rose to head the ball down, everybody inside the ground stopped
awaiting a flag.
It never came though, and with the hampered Schmeichel rooted to his line,
former AC Milan man Andersson ran in to ram home his second in a week.
The goal was the first Newcastle had scored at Old Trafford since Cole netted
for the Magpies in 1993, and they could have had a second - which surely would
have killed it off - within a minute.
Pallister again stood still as Speed slipped through to Shearer, and
theEngland skipper - booed at every touch - was away, taking the ball round
Schmeichel.
The angle was not the best, but Shearer's left-footer would effectively have
presented the title to Arsenal if his former Blackburn team-mate David May had
not got back to clear.
It got worse for the home side before it got better, Schmeichel limping away
and replaced by Raimond Van Der Gouw, who was forced to make a diving save from
Philippe Albert's volley.
With news of the Highbury goal-glut filtering through, raw nerves were exposed
on the field and off it, every misplaced pass bringing a chorus of disapproval,
tension bringing hesitation and more pressure.
Indeed, with Alessandro Pistone helping flood midfield for Newcastle, theReds
took 15 minutes to find their feet again, Barton blocking Sheringham, whose
dipping effort from distance then dropped just the wrong side of the bar with
Given beaten.
But just as they looked to be running out of ideas, Giggs proved the
inspiration Ferguson was looking for.
Picking up the ball on the left, the Welsh wizard injected real pace, andalso
delivered the ideal cross deep beyond the back post.
It took out the whole Newcastle def ence, but not Beckham, who dived forward
to make headed contact a foot or so off the floor and direct past Given for his
10th of the season.
Now Old Trafford came alive, although Newcastle remained patient in
possession, and the balance shifted again as Scholes replaced the struggling
Nicky Butt - not what the watching Glenn Hoddle wanted to see - just before the
break.
Within 14 seconds of the restart, Cole sent a right-footer beyond Given but
also outside his right-hand post.
The groans were probably heard at Highbury, the home fans fearing the worst
and that came so close to materialising in the 53rd minute.
Van Der Gouw, under pressure with a back-pass, caused the problems, playing
Scholes into all sorts of problems on the edge of the box.
Speed was in like a flash to dispossess, and with a big hole in front ofhim,
Barton advanced before thudding a right-footer past the diving Dutchman but
against the outside of the upright.
Newcastle's football was making a mockery of their woeful display at Highbury
last week, although Scholes tested Given in the 63rd minute.
Time was running out, Newcastle battling and scrapping, determined to give
nothing away, the home side desperate for a breakthrough against the massed
defence.
Andersson, a willing runner, was replaced by Temuri Ketsbaia midway through
the half, and the Georgian was the spark for the move that could have won it
with 17 minute left.
The home side retreated as Ketsbaia fed Speed, who in turn moved on
toShearer. Pallister stood up, but not close enough and Shearer's right-footer
was destined for the bottom corner before Van Der Gouw touched away.
Another escape, but while the Reds had plenty of possession, they did notlook
as if they would take advantage of it, Newcastle solid in defence, quick on the
break.
Twice, first through a Shearer header from Ketsbaia, then when Batty fedthe
Georgian in front of goal, they should have finished it off, Ferguson's
desperation shown as Solskjaer replaced Gary Neville with 11 minutes left.
The Norwegian might have stolen it after a goalmouth scramble, Given
notholding but Nikos Dabizas hacking off the line.
Even then it was not over, Given flying to his right to palm away a stunner
from Pallister, and when Newcastle broke from the corner, Keysbaia putting Lee
away, Solskjaer decided he had no choice but to bring him down.
Referee Uriah Rennie furnished the red card instantly. Solskjaer - the
sacrificial lamb receiving a standing ovation - barely had time to make his way
to the dressing room before the final whistle went.
The fat lady might not be singing, but she can start clearing her throat.
Teams:
Man Utd: Schmeichel (Van Der Gouw 18), G. Neville (Solskjaer 79),
Irwin, May, Pallister, Beckham, Butt (Scholes 44), Cole,
Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville.
Subs Not Used: Berg, Clegg.
Sent Off: Solskjaer (89).
Booked: Beckham, Pallister.
Goals: Beckham 38.
Newcastle: Given, Barton, Batty, Lee, Shearer, Speed, Pearce,
Pistone, Albert, Dabizas, Andersson (Ketsbaia 66).
Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Tomasson, Gillespie, Watson.
Booked: Pistone, Shearer, Given.
Goals: Andersson 11.
Att: 55,194
Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield).
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