Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester United were held to a draw by Newcastle United and were left to rue a harsh penalty decision given against them midway through the first half which Demba Ba converted, as well as an outstanding performance in goal from Newcastle’s Tim Krul.
Sir Alex Ferguson must be wondering how on earth his side failed to close to two points behind the Premier League leaders Manchester City as they did everything but score a second goal in a highly entertaining game at Old Trafford.
In the opening half Newcastle’s silky wingers Hatem Ben Arfa and ex-Red Gabriel Obertan impressed with their passing range and forward runs in midfield much to the delight of their manager Alan Pardew. Ben Arfa threaded a pass through to Ba whose volley forced David De Gea into a smart save.
Obertan then sent in a delivery from the right wing straight into the danger-area of the box only for Ryan Taylor to get a poor connection on the volley. One can only wonder what Sir Alex would have been thinking looking on at the Frenchman who has come on leaps and bounds since his move to the North-East looking a far more confident and dangerous player to the nervous individual that disappointed during a two-year stay in Manchester.
Before that Krul produced some good reaction-saves to deny Javier Hernandez an early goal before tipping wide a Ryan Giggs flick from a Fabio cross. However just before the break Hernandez blew a golden chance to score when he somehow fired over after being sent through on goal thanks to Ashley Young’s through-ball.
Four minutes after half-time Hernandez got the goal that his play deserved. There was a big helping hand of fortune to the strike as Wayne Rooney’s volley on the rebound of his free-kick was deflected onto the Mexican and into the net by Newcastle’s Steven Taylor. United should have doubled their lead moments later when Hernandez linked up with Fabio who blasted a shot.
Against the run of play Newcastle came back and into the game and after De Gea tipped a Fabio Coloccini shot from a short Yohan Cabaye corner wide, the visitors equalised through a Ba penalty after Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have fouled Ben Arfa. United’s players were far from happy with the decision made by referee Mike Jones as it looked as if the former England captain had won the ball cleanly.
Wrongful penalty decision aside, United despite that should have gone onto win the game but due to brave defending from Newcastle and inspired goalkeeping from Krul they had to settle for a draw. Young could have got a winner but blazed wide a Nani cross before striking a post. In between that Krul saved from Vidic whilst ex-Red Danny Simpson cleared an Hernandez effort off the line.
The fact Newcastle survived the final 11 minutes a man light thanks to Jonas Gutierrez receiving a second yellow card with United seeing a goal ruled out correctly for offside from Hernandez only made the result even more disappointing. Liverpool will now be wished on by every United fan tomorrow in the hope that they can at least stop Roberto Mancini’s City going 7 points clear.
United: De Gea, Evra (Macheda), Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio (Smalling), Young, Giggs, Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez.
Star Man
It would be hard to look past the performance of Tim Krul in goal who fronted Newcastle’s efforts today. The Dutch keeper is improving game by game for Pardew’s men and is rightly based on form the club’s first choice goalkeeper these days. He has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and commands his area. His saves to deny Vidic and Giggs in particular were outstanding and he didn’t deserve to be on the losing side today.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
