Newcastle United 1, Manchester United 5

Feb 25 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

THERE has to be hope in football and the belief that nothing is impossible for the game to retain its excitement and appeal. But Newcastle United’s latest hammering at the hands of Manchester United was nothing but predictable.

When Kevin Keegan was asked whether he believed Newcastle could beat the reigning Premier League champions before the game, he said there was no point turning up if he did not.

As it were, Newcastle may as well have stayed away as the defeat never looked in doubt, although the defence did a pretty good impression of a disappearing act.

There is, perhaps, no shame in losing to one of the best sides in Europe and Newcastle, particularly in the first half, occasionally even managed to cause the Red Devils a few moments of concern.

But there is shame in losing by such a margin in front of your own supporters and, by the end, the visitors looked as though they were capable of scoring at will. Had it not been for two wonderful saves by substitute goalkeeper Steve Harper on his 100th appearance for the club, Manchester United might have had six or seven.

They were rampant and ruthless and a class above a Newcastle team which, once upon time, stood toe-to-toe with them for domestic honours. Newcastle, though, have not beaten Manchester United at home since 2001 and memories of that 5-0 thrashing in 1996, during the last season in Keegan’s previous spell in charge, are fading to the point of being forgotten.

That result was 12 years ago and, just like the FA Cup triumphs of the 1950s, was achieved by a different Newcastle United and belong to a different era. You can only live off former glories for so long.

The modern Newcastle is a big business but it is a business which will be brought to its knees if Keegan cannot turn things a around on the pitch.

The faint fears of relegation which greeted his return to the club he loves grow louder with each game. Sadly, in his five weeks back he appears to have made things worse, not better, if results are all he is judged on.

Since Sam Allardyce was sacked, Newcastle have won just one game out of eight, an FA Cup replay against Stoke City and Keegan was not in charge that day.

In the Premier League they have taken two points, scored just three goals and conceded 22. Keegan was also not in charge for Newcastle’s 6-0 thrashing at Old Trafford in January, but there was not much difference in the return fixture at St James’s Park on Saturday as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side made it 11 goals in two games against the Magpies.

The rot began before Keegan’s second spell as manager began, but it is a rot he must stop – and fast. The players look shattered, mentally and physically, drained by the cumulative effect of 10 successive league games without a win.

Such a run inevitably makes a side fragile and the last thing it needs is to face a Manchester United side in such formidable form, with Wayne Rooney, the Newcastle-born and bred Michael Carrick, and Cristiano Ronaldo all particularly impressive.

They took the lead midway through the first half, when Charles N’Zogbia went to sleep and allowed Rooney to open the scoring at the far post. They extended it when Joey Barton – not for the first or the last time – gave the ball to Carrick, whose pass found Ronaldo, whose shot found the back of the net.

It was game over when Ronaldo was played in again by Nani after Abdoulaye Faye had lost the ball. The Portuguese skipped passed Steven Taylor and calmly rounded Harper to make it three.

Faye’s close-range effort briefly inspired thoughts of a comeback, but Manchester United moved up another gear and Rooney curled in a delightful shot from the edge of the area after Alan Smith – still without a goal in 28 appearances this season – had flicked the ball into his path. By the time Louis Saha made it five, Newcastle were playing in front of a half-empty stadium and praying for the final whistle.

It is difficult to find any positives but Damien Duff’s rehabilitation continues to gather momentum, James Milner’s industry is always pleasing, Habib Beye is growing into a decent Premier League right-back and teenage substitute Andy Carroll gave a nice little cameo in the second half and set up Faye’s strike.

Scant consolation at the start of another hard week’s work on the training pitch. Newcastle must wonder where their next win is coming from. Next weekend’s home game against Blackburn Rovers looks vital, with a trip to Liverpool to follow a week later.