Newcastle 1 Manchester United 2

Last updated : 27 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

It takes some believing - three goals from Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer in the opening two Premiership games of the season and he has yet to be on a winning side.

Just like the match against Leeds, Shearer put the Magpies in front only to see the opposition bounce back to take a 2-1 lead.

But unlike that match at Elland Road, there was no come back this time for Sir Bobby Robson's men in what overall was a disappointing display where Newcastle got what they deserved - nothing.

As they did last season in this encounter, Newcastle were first to break the deadlock, Shearer netting what was his first and only shot on target.

Laurent Robert won the kick after 26 minutes - three minutes after Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson was dismissed from the dugout by referee Uriah Rennie for using foul and abusive language at fourth official Jeff Winter.

Fergie's outburst followed an incident that saw Ryan Giggs go down under pressure from Andy O'Brien outside the area and Rennie allowed play to continue.

It was Robert himself who floated the cross into the danger area and when Mikael Silvestre slipped, Shearer rose unchallenged to firmly head beyond new keeper Tim Howard.

If this was the springboard to greater things that Newcastle expected, nothing could have been further from the truth.

Once again the Red Devils took a grip in midfield, inspired by the outstanding Roy Keane who pulled all the strings.

Shola Ameobi - in for the injured Craig Bellamy - showed some good skills two minutes after the goal to cross over the face of the goal, but there was no one to supply the final touch.

The early second half warning signs were there for Newcastle when just four minutes after the break Ruud van Nistelrooy was put clear by Keane but lifted his shot wide.

Three minutes later when the same duo combined again, there was no escape for Newcastle when played onside by Aaron Hughes, the Dutchman picked his spot to make it 1-1.

Paul Scholes - a hat-trick hero here last season - then missed a sitter from six years before exacting revenge with the match winning just before the hour mark.

Again Keane was the inspiration with a great cross from the right and as O'Brien slipped, Scholes gratefully chested the ball into the net.

Sir Bobby made a triple substitution on 72 minutes sending on Michael Chopra, Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana for Ameobi, Lee Bowyer and Robert, with the Frenchman heading straight down the tunnel.

With Ferguson watching the entire second half on television from the comfort Sir Bobby Robson's office, he must have feared the worst when in time added on Shearer set up Chopra, but the youngster saw his effort blocked.