A fair result

Newcastle had the audacity to take the lead through Obafemi Martins and even though it lasted only two minutes they continued to play with confidence, resulting in a far more accomplished performance than their normal showings, writes Daniel Taylor.

As opening games go, Manchester United’s defence of the Premier League began with a demonstration of why the club fought so hard to repel Real Madrid’s summer advances for their most penetrative player. Cristiano Ronaldo could be located at Old Trafford sitting apart from the other injured players, with his baseball cap the wrong way around and unaware or unconcerned that one of the fanzines being sold on Sir Matt Busby Way described him as a “preening, p erma-tanned, posturing, petulant prick.” It is all a matter of taste but what cannot be disputed is that Sir Alex Ferguson’s team do not inspire the same fear in opponents when he is in the stand.

Without a win here since 1972, facing the European Cup holders and with the bruising memories of last season’s 6-0 drubbing still in their minds, it is fair to say the average Newcastle follower could have been forgiven for fearing the worst when they were handed a trip to Old Trafford to usher in the new season. Instead, Newcastle had the audacity to take the lead through Obafemi Martins and even though it lasted only two minutes they continued to play with confidence, resulting in a far more accomplished performance than their normal showings here.

At times they rode their luck and a reasonable argument could also be made that this was a good time to face the champions given the number of senior players unavailable to Ferguson, Carlos Tevez joining the list after being allowed compassionate leave because of a family bereavement. Nonetheless, it was a surprisingly erratic performance from the side in the red, while one from Newcastle that few would have anticipated. And so it was a game in which the usual Old Trafford humiliation for Newcastle never materialised and their opponents became so frustrated a rattled Wayne Rooney resorted to scything down opponents, Rio Ferdinand could be seen exchanging angry words with Ryan Giggs and Ferguson, all arms and larynx, spent the last few minutes out of his dug-out, imploring his players to raise their game.

By then, Ferguson had brought on Rafael da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon, two Brazilian teenagers of rich promise but whose presence here demonstrated the lack of options while Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Park Ji-Sung and Owen Hargreaves are injured, Nani is suspended, Tevez is in Argentina and Anderson at the Olympic Games. To add to a “disappointing” day for Ferguson, Michael Carrick limped off with an ankle that could rule him out for up to three weeks and Giggs also had to leave the pitch early because of his recurrent hamstring problems.

In the absence of Tevez, Rooney was partnered by Fraizer Campbell, a 20-year-old making his debut after spending last season on loan at Hull City. Talented yet raw, he could have scored after seven minutes when his flying header from Rooney’s cross ricocheted off Shay Given’s forehead for one of the more unusual saves Newcastle’s goalkeeper will ever make. Given denied the same player with a more orthodox dive in the second-half but, that apart, Campbell did little to trouble Newcastle’s defence before he, too, was injured. Rooney was far more involved but found himself drifting too far back into his own half at times and Ferguson acknowledged that the striker was not at his sharpest.

The credit should go to the Newcastle defence in which Steven Taylor was superb and Fabricio Coloccini recovered from a nervous start to demonstrate why Newcastle had thought him worthy of paying Deportivo de La Coruña £10.3m. Another new recruit, Jonas Gutierrez, was equally impressive when Newcastle attacked, combining pace and drive on the left wing, whereas Danny Guthrie looks an extremely shrewd signing from Liverpool. Keegan later described him as the game’s outstanding performer.

Ferguson will feel the outcome might have been very different had Mike Riley awarded a penalty, inside the opening two minutes, when James Milner blocked Giggs’s free-kick with his arm, although Gutierrez also had a decent claim early on after being barged to the floor by Nemanja Vidic. After that, the home side created most of the better chances and, in the closing stages, Vidic struck the crossbar, but Kevin Keegan was entitled to say that his players had deserved the draw.

Newcastle will also reflect on their misfortune when Taylor hurt himself in the build-up to Martins heading in the opening goal, in an astonishing amount of space, from Guthrie’s corner. If anyone in the away end dared to think they might finally witness a victory at Old Trafford, those hopes quickly evaporated. With Taylor having treatment, Newcastle briefly lost their shape in defence and Giggs picked out Darren Fletcher, who stole in front of Charles N’Zogbia to flick the ball past Given.

Thereafter, United’s frustrations provoked a sense of deja vu from the corresponding weekend last season when Reading emerged with a goalless draw. Ferguson was correct when he said it was not a disaster but it does represent a surprise, to say the least.

The Results

August 17: Aston Villa 4 (Carew 47, Agbonlahor 69, 74 & 76) bt Manchester City 2 (Elano pen-64, Corluka 89). Half-time: 0-0; Chelsea 4 (J. Cole 12, Anelka 26, Lampard pen-46, Deco 89) bt Portsmouth 0. Half-time: 3-0; Manchester United 1 (Fletcher 24) drew with Newcastle 1 (Martins 22). Half-time: 1-1.

August 16: Arsenal 1 (Nasri 4) bt West Brom 0. Half-time: 1-0; Bolton 3 (Steinsson 34, Davies 41, Elmander 46) bt Stoke 1 (Fuller 91). Half-time: 3-0; Everton 2 (Arteta 46, Yakubu 64) lost to Blackburn 3 (Dunn 22, Santa Cruz 66, Ooijer 91). Half-time: 1-1; Hull 2 (Geovanni 22, Folan 81) bt Fulham 1 (Ki-Hyeon 8). Half-time: 1-1; Middlesbrough 2 (Wheater 71, Mido 86) bt Tottenham 1 (Huth o.g. 91). Half-time: 0-0; Sunderland 0 lost to Liverpool 1 (Torres 83). Half-time: 0-0; West Ham 2 (Ashton 3 & 10) bt Wigan 1 (Zaki 47). Half-time: 2-0.