IT is a point which does not provide any conclusive answers, although it was a result which suggests Manchester United will be champions in May and Newcastle United will be playing them again next term.
Having begun the season fearing the drop, this point should ensure Newcastle do not have any more sleepless nights between now and the end of May.
It is a modest ambition for a club of its size, but an important sign of progress all the same. It has been a long time since the Magpies challenged the Red Devils for such illustrious silverware as a league championship, but in their present guise, they can be proud to hold their own against English football’s leading light.
After all, for all of the memories of 5-0 thrashings under Kevin Keegan, the statistics betray the real balance of power between the two clubs.
Newcastle have not beaten Sir Alex Ferguson’s side since 2001 and in the 18 games since, they have now managed only four draws and 14 defeats. Sometimes a draw really can seem as good as a victory.
Newcastle began superbly last night, swarming over a ponderous Manchester United midfield, although they still needed an alert save at the feet of Javier Hernandez from Tim Krul to keep the game scoreless in just the second minute.
Wayne Rooney did the damage, running on to Patrice Evra’s long ball into the space vacated by Danny Simpson at right back, before rolling the ball across the six yard box where Krul – in for the injured Steve Harper – needed a strong hand to palm the ball away from the Mexican.
Newcastle, though, gained confidence from the ease with which Ameobi turned away from John O’Shea on the edge of the area and moments after that, Jonas Gutiérrez – on his 100th appearance for the club – brought St James’ Park to its feet, jinking inside two Manchester defenders, before tapping the ball away from another, a goalbound shot deflected wide by the last second intervention of Nemanja Vidic.
It cranked up the atmosphere another notch, a succession of corners putting intense pressure on a visiting defence deprived of Rio Ferdinand, but still so often able to hold firm under examinations like these.
