NEWCASTLE UNITED travel to Old Trafford today imbued with the belief that they can win. Mark Douglas reports.
SIR Alex Ferguson stormed out of a Press conference this week after being asked why his team are “struggling” in Europe – so you can imagine what he’d make of the implication his Red Devils are vulnerable to a black-and-white raid on Old Trafford this afternoon.
Dropped points against Basel and Benfica made queries about their European credentials fair game, but the irascible Scot might be entitled to feel a little incredulous if their Premier League form was called into question.
Three successive single-goal wins have extended their lead over the chasing pack and kept Manchester’s United in touch with Roberto Mancini’s free-wheeling Citizens at the summit of the Premier League.
Indeed, if you discount the remarkable debacle against Manchester City, they have dropped just four points all season.
Yet somehow, Alan Pardew’s Newcastle arrive with the belief that they can wipe out nearly four decades of misery in the champions’ back yard.
Perhaps it is perceived weaknesses in an Old Trafford rearguard that has seen brighter days, or possibly it is the confidence of a group of players who felt “angry” that they had not inflicted more damage on Manchester City last weekend.
Whatever it is, you will not be able to accuse Newcastle of not believing in themselves as they enter the second of a trio of teak-tough tests.
And that – after years of travelling to Old Trafford saddled with an inferiority complex – has to represent progress.
Newcastle full-back Danny Simpson says: “I have heard it’s 39 years or something like that.
“It’s time to change that, but Newcastle have had some great games with them over the years.
“The main thing is that we believe we can actually get something. Last year maybe we didn’t have that belief, but this season is different.
“Whatever team they play it is a tough ask – they know how to win but we are confident we can go there and compete.
“We will have a go, of course. That is what the manager here is all about, he believes in us and has told us to be confident because of the position we are in right now. We are a good, hard working team with players who can score goals so there is no reason not to go to United, take the game to them and see how they react.”
Familiarity has certainly demystified some of the threat posed by a trip to Old Trafford.
The Magpies have two former Red Devils in their likely starting XI and neither Simpson nor Gabriel Obertan have spared former team-mates in the run-up to the game.
“I had a bit of banter with Patrice (Evra) because obviously me and Gabby Obertan will be against him on the right. Just a bit of banter saying ‘we’re going to beat you down our side’,” he said.
