'Manchester United edged a little closer to their championship rivals after an impressive display saw them win a pulsating contest at St James' Park 3-1.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was the man on the spot when he netted in the second half after Alan Shearer had cancelled out Wayne Rooney's clever opener. The England man was involved in much of United's most productive work and in the final moments, struck his second in what was a hugely satisfying afternoon.
The opening exchanges saw both sides in a combative mood and passing the ball with the crisp intensity one would expect from two of The Premiership's more entertaining sides. United's spiky Argentine Gabriel Heinze was the first to be engulfed by the caldron atmosphere in St James' Park and when he felled Craig Bellamy on two minutes, Shearer set his sights.
With United's wall creaking, Shearer unleashed a customary cannon which Roy Carroll did well to divert for a corner when unsighted.
United had opted to leave Ryan Giggs on their bench and within six minutes, Sir Alex Ferguson's decision was vindicated, when surprise inclusion Darren Fletcher created the game's opener. Given rare space in what was a minefield of a midfield, the young Scot advanced with the ball and chipped a clever pass behind Newcastle's backline. Titus Bramble was left leaden footed by Rooney's run and the new Old Trafford darling was just as sharp in his finish as he dispatched past Shay Given from the narrowest of angles to hand United early advantage.
The interval provided respite for the visitors and their reappearance after the break brought with it a controlled period of sustained possession.
Paul Scholes, peripheral for much of this season in comparison to his normal contribution, had by this point played his way into the game and it was his vision that should have created United's second. A run from the left went unattended and after he threaded the most sumptuous of passes, Fletcher could only blaze wildly over the top when perfectly positioned to add a goal to his assist.
With chances at a premium, Shearer took matters into his own hands and after dispossessing a ponderous Wes Brown, he headed for the United goal. Invited to continue his run by Ferdinand's reluctance to close down, Shearer drove towards goal and dispatched past Carroll on the stretch with his left foot.
Credit United for their resilience, as within four minutes, on 72, they were back in front courtesy of a controversial van Nistelrooy spot-kick. Andy O'Brien was hurried out of possession by a busy Rooney and after the England youngster attempted a chip, Given could only palm and in attempting to win back possession, bundled over Scholes who was looking for the rebound.
The final twenty minutes saw Newcastle enjoy possession but they created precious little of substance and in injury time, Rooney netted his second after the type of defending that will alarm Souness greatly. Smith was left unattended to head across goal and after van Nistelrooy's finish was cleared off the line by a desperate Bramble lunge, Rooney was on hand to stab home.'