Manchester United 6-0 Newcastle United

A scintillating perfomance from Manchester United and SIX second half goals, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s first hat-trick in a United shirt, saw them return to the top of the table.

United (of Manchester) started well and Rooney had 4 good chances to score as Capaca struggled to come to terms with the returning Englishman.

Newcastle were not without their threat in the first half – Milner seeing a half chance blocked by Ferdinand after O’Shea made a mess of a clearance.

The talking points of the first half came around 35 mins as Manchester United turned up the pressure. Two cast iron penalties were denied, first for Ronaldo, second for Giggs – it is easy to see why Styles didn’t give the Ronaldo one, not on the incident, but based on the fact that Ronaldo would probably have to be murdered to get a penalty at Old Trafford these days. Still, it will be interesting to see if Mr Styles repeats his public apology for Liverpool after seeing the replays of this.

Straight after the penalty appeals, Newcastle raced down the other end and added a little controversy of their own, when Michael Owen was given offside, but raced through to put the ball in the goal anyway. The commentators and media immediately called this a “disallowed goal” – and if we’re being totally honest and fair, Owen was onside, and should have been given the opportunity to continue. However, the issue of whether this was a disallowed goal is in its very nature contentious – the whistle was blown long before Owen put the ball in the net – indeed, Ferdinand had stopped chasing. While I have every sympathy with the decision, it wasn’t a disallowed goal, it was an offside decision previous to any Owen attempt, and if we’re going to be completely pedantic, Owen should have been booked for kicking the ball away. It is mere clutching at straws to suggest in hindsight that the “goal” would have changed anything, and I would suggest anyone still harping on about the legibility of the goal is surely crying hypocrite after the no penalty decisions preceding the incident.

Still, this seemed to liven the game up and spur a previously anonymous Ronaldo into action, as he went close twice. Numerous corners were won but no advantage was taken, and the teams went into the half time break level, but not before Rooney was booked for a cynical challenge as Newcastle broke – met with understandable anger from Ferdinand, who had just witnessed Alan Smith escape from an identical challenge with a warning.

Whatever was said at half time must have made a hell of a difference for the Red Devils, but when you consider that theoretically they could have been 4 up anyway by that stage, then take into account the 6 goals and 5 goal-line clearances, as well as a couple of other chances, it is no exaggeration to say that Manchester United could have won the game by 12 or 13 goals – indeed, putting my opinion out there, it could be the most perfect performance in Premiership history, and goes to show, again, that while the media and half of North London hide behind their delusions, the best footballing team in the land is Manchester United.

Contrary to what the scoreline may suggest, Newcastle didn’t lay down, and although missing a couple of players, were stronger than they have been for a while, with Owen and Duff both getting rare starts as they continued their comebacks.

It could be argued that the team in red got a lucky break after a dubious foul by Smith led to a Ronaldo free kick goal, but nothing was lucky about their second when Giggs showed great determination to charge down a lost cause, then great intuition to pick up a dodgy backpass, and finally superb inventivity to somehow pick a pass to Tevez, who, unmarked, easily scored the second.

It was party time by now at Old Trafford, as the crowd, who had been responding to Sir Alex’s criticsm after the New Years Day fixture throughout with a loud show of support, were rewarded with the kind of goal United are becoming renowned for, and simply, the kind of goal that no other side, in England at least, can reach the levels of being able to score. A charge down and intelligent pass from the delightfully confident Carrick was picked up by Ronaldo, he found Rooney, who in turn fed Tevez, whose ball was picked up exquisitely by the on-running Portuguese forward, who coolly finished it.

United were inexplicably denied a third penalty after a blatant push on Ferdinand. After such a performance and win, it is easy to dimiss, but to have 3 cast iron penalties turned down, especially after the incident against Fulham before Christmas, all by Styles, is a worrying sign. Some may feel it’s a moot point given the win, and although the point is half in irony, Styles apologised to Liverpool for a dubious penalty given against them. If his current trend continues he could end up costing United the league because of his personal opinion of Ronaldo – further still, if this is the kind of official that carries a pre-determined opinion into individual incidents, he may very well end up costing a Premiership team who is struggling, their place. That is no over reaction.

Back to Old Trafford – Wayne Rooney may have been frustrated by not scoring, but his all round contribution was fantastic – he and Giggs were at the heart of most of United’s chances, and it was Rooney’s sublime pass that Rio Ferdinand magnificently volleyed in with just 5 minutes left. However, the scoring was still not done, and there was an air of inevitability when Ronaldo picked the ball up on the edge of the Newcastle box with seconds remaining, waltzed past a challenge and comfortably finished, with the aid of a deflection, for the long awaited first hat-trick of his career.

There was even time for Carlos Tevez to net his second with a brilliantly taken drive – over, but inches over – the line, via the crossbar, but debatable enough to understand why Alan Smith would argue enough to get a second yellow, even at 6-0 down. Smith was applauded off by a buoyant Old Trafford crowd.

United have reclaimed top spot for the second time in three weeks, albeit on goal difference, but if today’s display is anything to go by, even winning the league by goal difference will show United as worthy champions.

Ratings : van der Sar 7, O’Shea 7, Ferdinand 9, Vidic 9, Evra 7 (Simpson 7), Ronaldo 9, Carrick 9, Anderson 8 (Fletcher 6), Giggs 9 (Nani 7), Rooney 10*, Tevez 9.

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