Fletch: We've got the edge

Darren Fletcher suspects that United’s FA Cup hammering of Arsenal has already had an impact on the Premier League title race.

The Gunners are without a win in three matches and their last-gasp failure to beat Birmingham on Saturday, married to United’s hammering of Newcastle, saw Arsenal's lead at the top of the table cut to just three points.


In light of both sides' initial reactions to the Old Trafford cup clash, Fletcher feels United have assumed psychological superiority as the season enters its most crucial stage.

“The title race was open even before today,” Fletcher told MUTV after the 5-1 romp at St James’ Park. “We know Arsenal have still got to come to Old Trafford too.

“But that result last week maybe had a little psychological edge. We went out there and played fantastically against Arsenal and managed to win convincingly, and they’ve not won since.

“It’s getting to the nitty-gritty now, we’ve been there last season and we know what it’s about. We’re hoping to push on and keep winning every game now until the end of the season – that’s the target.”

Fletcher and Michael Carrick joined forces in the centre of midfield against the Magpies, relegating Anderson and Paul Scholes to the bench while Owen Hargreaves was omitted entirely from the 16-man squad.

With United’s strength in depth plain for all to see, the Scottish midfielder feels the Reds are better equipped this season to cope with the demands of chasing three trophies.

“Sometimes it’s a struggle to get on the bench, but that’s only good for Manchester United because you know that when you get your chance you have to perform to a top, top level,” he said.

“Sometimes even that’s not good enough because the team gets rotated, so there’s no room for bad performances and that keeps everyone on their toes.

“That’s why we’ve got a big squad and we’re fighting on all fronts, which is going to help us because we didn’t have that last season. I think we’re going to see the benefit of that this season.”

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Report: N'castle 1 United 5

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as United closed the gap on Arsenal at the top with an emphatic victory at St James’ Park.

Buoyed by news of the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Birmingham earlier in the day, the Reds dominated from start to finish to record their second convincing win over Newcastle in as many months.

Ronaldo set up Rooney for the opener before the Portugal winger bagged his 28th and 29th goals of the season to put United out of sight.


Abdoulaye Faye pulled one back but Rooney’s superb second and a late strike from substitute Louis Saha left Newcastle still searching for their first win since Kevin Keegan returned to the club.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson, mindful of the need to keep his squad fresh as they chase three trophies, made four changes to his starting line-up after the midweek draw in Lyon.

In came Nani, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Carlos Tevez for Anderson, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves and Ryan Giggs, with the latter two not even on the bench.

Keegan’s men had conceded 11 goals in four games coming into the match and United threatened to open them up at will early on.

Carrick made a marauding run through the middle and played in Rooney on the right of the box, but the striker failed to pick out one of his team-mates with his pulled-back cross.

In the 24th minute, Rio Ferdinand had to be at his best to clear the ball in the box with Michael Owen poised to pull the trigger – and a minute later United were ahead.

Ronaldo motored down the left, cut back inside Habib Beye and delivered a pinpoint cross to an unmarked Rooney, who volleyed home smartly at the back post.

Charles N’Zogbia was booked for bringing down Nani and Faye followed him minutes later after preventing Edwin van der Sar from making a quick clearance. Owen then became the third Newcastle player into referee Chris Foy’s notebook for raising his studs as he contested a ball with Nemanja Vidic.

Tevez missed a great chance to double United’s lead five minutes before the break, heading a Nani cross wide from seven yards.

But it wasn’t long before the Reds had their second and it was Ronaldo who delivered the sucker-punch with his 20th Barclays Premier League goal of the season.

This time Carrick was the provider, the midfielder finding himself in acres of space as he drove forward and picking out Ronaldo, who calmly slotted past Shay Given.

Ferguson brought on John O’Shea for Patrice Evra at the break, while Keegan’s only move was to replace goalkeeper Given with Steve Harper, suggesting he was more concerned with keeping the scoreline respectable than mounting a fightback.

And five minutes in Ronaldo ended the game as a contest with his second goal of the night. Fletcher intercepted Faye’s poor clearance, put Ronaldo through on goal and the winger rounded Harper before finishing emphatically.

The 23-year-old was denied the chance to score his second Reds hat-trick when he was replaced by Saha in the 66th minute, to a standing ovation from the away support.

Nicky Butt was booked for a crude tackle from behind on Carrick before Vidic, still feeling the effects of Owen’s late challenge in the first half, was replaced by Scholes.

Newcastle battled to offer a silenced St James’ Park something to cheer, but by now United were in total command.

However, Faye ensured there was to be no exact repeat of the Tynesiders’ 6-0 mauling at Old Trafford last month when he smashed home after a goalmouth scramble.

Scholes, eyeing his first goal since August, almost netted United’s fifth but, after a neat one-two with Nani, the midfielder’s header was well pushed over by Harper.

Rooney’s second goal and United’s fourth was exquisite. With 10 minutes left, he collected the ball on the edge of the box after the Magpies had only half-cleared a corner and curled an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner. It was his eighth goal in eight league games against Newcastle.

Former United man Alan Smith came close to opening his account for the Magpies but saw his shot from the edge of the box tipped over by Van der Sar.

By now, Newcastle were all over the place at the back and Harper tipped over Saha’s toe-poke inside the box.

But the Frenchman did get on the scoresheet in stoppage-time, firing home from inside the box to cap another resounding win for the Reds over their north-east rivals.

Team Line-ups

Newcastle United: Given (Harper 46); Beye, Taylor, Faye, N'Zogbia; Milner (Geremi 84), Butt, Barton (Carroll 61), Duff; Smith, Owen.
Subs not used: Cacapa, Ameobi.
Booked: Butt, Faye, N'Zogbia, Owen

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Vidic (Scholes 74), Ferdinand, Evra (O'Shea 46); Ronaldo (Saha 67), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani; Rooney, Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Anderson.

Attendance: 52, 291


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Carrick: Teams can't contain us

Michael Carrick wants United to keep up the ruthless attacking play that saw the Reds tear into Newcastle on Saturday.

The United midfielder, who continued his excellent recent form with another commanding central midfield display, believes few teams can live with United's swarming attacks and clinical finishing.

"It's very satisfying when it all comes together like this because that's the standard we set ourselves," he said after the game.

"We're finishing strongly at the moment. We have so much pace and when we attack with speed, we cause any team problems.

"Everyone contributes but the front four or five provide that pace and Ronaldo is phenomenal, he just puts away his chances with ease."

The victory took United to within three points of league leaders Arsenal, who spurned the chance to temporarily go eight points clear when they drew 2-2 with Birmingham City earlier in the day.

That result presented an opportunity to the United players, who were determined not to let it pass. Carrick added: "With Arsenal drawing [2-2 with Birmingham], we knew before kick-off it would be a big three points for us.

"There are bound to be ups and downs before the end of the season but in the end it was a good day for us, closing the gap on them and doing our goal difference the power of good.

"We were happy at half-time but didn't really play great in the second-half, maybe we were a bit comfortable. Then as soon as they scored, we put the game to bed."

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Rooney: Rival's slip lifted us

Wayne Rooney revealed that Arsenal’s surprise draw at Birmingham gave United extra motivation to beat Newcastle.

The striker scored two of the Reds’ five goals in a superb win at St James’ Park which closed the gap on the Gunners at the top to three points.

“We saw the Arsenal result before we played and that made us want to win even more, if that's possible,” Rooney told Setanta Sports.



“We knew we had to go out there and get three points, nothing less.

“Now we have to keep working hard and winning to try and overtake Arsenal and hopefully stay there until the end of the season.”

Rooney opened the scoring with a close-range volley but he was especially pleased with his second goal, which took his tally to eight in eight league games against the Magpies.

“I enjoyed my second goal. I'm always on the edge of the box for corners and I've been saying one will drop out to me and I'll score – thankfully that happened today.”

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McBride eyes Reds scalp

Fulham forward Brian McBride warns United should not be fooled by the Cottagers lowly league position, and says the Reds are in for a fight for three more points in the title race on Saturday.

Last season's visit to Craven Cottage - with Cristiano Ronaldo's last-gasp winner - proved to be one of the critical games in United's championship-winning campaign. But McBride has promised the Reds will be in for an equally keenly contested match.


But Fulham aren't exactly in top form. They've won just once since last facing United, in December - a comfortable 2-0 victory at Old Trafford - taking just six points in their last 12 games. Roy Hodgson's men are second-bottom in the Premier League and must rapidly start picking up points. But McBride suggests confidence is growing in west London.

"You can see we have a lot of belief," he told Fulham's official website. "As soon as we start taking our chances things will change for us. It's up to us as forwards.

"The manager has put us in a formation where we can pass the ball and find guys in good spots and every single person that has come into the club has gelled. Everybody has a good understanding of what the manager wants."

Injury has limited the USA international to just six appearances this season. But he played his first 90 minutes since August in the 1-0 defeat to West Ham at the weekend.

"It was nice to play the whole game," he added. "It's been a long period out where I have wanted to be helping the team. I have to do that now. We need wins right now. I’m just thinking about the next game and getting three points. It’s a big game on Saturday and one that we’ve got to win."

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Scholes still peerless

The performances of United newcomers Anderson and Nani indicate a prosperous future at Old Trafford. But old heads like Paul Scholes still have plenty to offer, according to former Reds midfielder Ray Wilkins.

Sir Alex's two young summer signings have turned in excellent performances of late, providing stiff competition for the likes of Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

"It's a first-class array of talent in that department," says Wilkins. "Only Chelsea can come anywhere near United's senior midfield in terms of quality and quantity.

"Can having too many players be confusing? Let's just say that Sir Alex Ferguson rarely gets it wrong. It's great for United."

The United boss will have a tough job selecting his central midfield pairing to face Fulham on Saturday. But, for Wilkins, there's one player that should be first pick every week.

"They all have their qualities and each combination has its merits. But I'd always have Paul Scholes in there," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"It's Paul and one from the other four for me, depending on the circumstances. If you want a holding player with him, then choose Michael Carrick at home and Owen Hargreaves

Wilkins insists that 33-year-old Scholes remains one of the English game's top talents, and believes his influence will have a decisive impact on United's success this season.

"Paul is an absolute must," he says. "He is still one of the best in the country. He's still a very big influence for United and will continue to be so for some time.

"I know some fans and some critics are claiming he might be on his way out but I bet none of United's opponents are thinking that.

"Of course, Paul is getting on and he may have had a quiet period since his return, but he is going to have a major say for United for a long while yet."

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Park: We'll catch Arsenal

United may have thumped five goals past Newcastle last weekend but Ji-sung Park hopes the Reds won’t need to rely on goal difference come the end of the season.

Sir Alex’s men went into the most recent round of Barclays Premier League fixtures level with Arsenal in terms of goal difference (+36) but a five-goal haul at St James’ Park, coupled with the Gunners’ draw with Birmingham City, saw United gain a valuable advantage.

And while it puts United in pole position should the teams finish level on points, South Korean midfielder Ji-sung Park is determined the title race doesn’t go down to the wire.


“After the weekend, the gap is only three points at the top of the table and that’s very important for us,” Park told MUTV.

“And remember we have to play Arsenal at Old Trafford in April, so that means we can potentially take another three points off them. Everybody in the squad is determined to get to the top of the league as quickly as possible and I’m sure it will happen.

“The league is close so it’s possible we’ll end the season on the same points as Arsenal. In that case, games like the one against Newcastle where we score four or five goals can certainly help us.

I prefer not to think about that scenario though! We just want to win all our games and I’d rather finish comfortably ahead of Arsenal come the end of the season.”

Park says the desire to reel in the Gunners sooner rather than later is shared by everyone at the club, although he’s quick to point out the title isn’t necessarily a two-horse race.

“I think Chelsea can also challenge,” he said. “They have real quality in their squad and lots of hunger to win. But our confidence is high at the moment and we just want to hurry up and get back on top. Everybody believes we can go all the way.”

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