PRESS BOX VIEW - PRESS ASSOCIATION

Last updated : 15 November 2004 By editor

Manchester United's £46million strike-force teamed up to condemn Newcastle to a 3-1 home defeat - their third in a week - in the battle of the Premiership's under-achievers.

Wayne Rooney, the man the Magpies tried to sign in August, blasted home a seventh-minute volley and, after Alan Shearer had levelled with his 10th goal of the season on 71 minutes, Ruud van Nistelrooy nervelessly converted a 74th-minute penalty to clinch three invaluable points before Rooney struck again deep into injury-time.

There was little doubt that United were the better side, although Newcastle will again feel they were denied the rub of the green after Andy O'Brien appeared to be fouled by Rooney in the run-up to the penalty.

There were few surprises when Ferguson's team selection saw 10 changes to the side which started against Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup in midweek, although there were a few raised eyebrows when the man retained was midfielder Darren Fletcher.

With Van Nistelrooy and Rooney preparing to link up once again with goals at a premium, their contribution was certain to be key in one way or another.

Rooney needed just seven minutes to remind Newcastle why they had tried so hard to sign him before their opponents' £27million bid was accepted by Everton. The teenager's run was picked out by Fletcher, but the execution of the volley which sailed past the stranded Given was all his own work.

Nicky Butt was not enjoying the best of afternoons against his former club.

After the break Fletcher could have put the result beyond any doubt within six minutes. First he cut in from the left and fired a right-foot shot straight at Given, and then he turned up from the opposite flank to collect a Paul Scholes pass, but this time skied his effort high over.

Rooney shot high over after being picked out beyond the far post by Scholes on 62 minutes, and it was then that Souness acted, sending on Robert for the disgruntled Kluivert and to popular acclaim. Robert tried hard to force his way into the game, but it was Shearer who levelled on 71 minutes, robbing Brown before charging in on goal and beating Carroll with a low left-foot drive.

However, Newcastle were on level terms for just three minutes, and yet again, the home side felt they had been hard done to. Rooney appeared to fell O'Brien wide on the United left but referee Mike Dean allowed play to continue and when the striker crossed, Given was adjudged to have fouled Scholes, and the official pointed to the spot.

Van Nistelrooy may be struggling for goals from open play, but he is as lethal as ever from the spot, and he dispatched the penalty with ruthless efficiency to silence the home crowd, with Rooney's second simply rubbing salt into the wound.