Newcastle 2 Man Utd 2
A second-half strike from Newcastle’s David Edgar denied leaders Manchester United victory in a thrilling match.
The Magpies took a surprise lead when James Milner fired in a stunning shot high into Edwin van der Sar’s goal.
The visitors bounced back when Scholes rifled in a brilliant 20-yard shot before he scored a sublime second from a similar distance.
But 19-year-old defender Edgar grabbed a point for Newcastle with a 25-yard drive that deflected in off Scholes.
The action started almost from the word go when Louis Saha came close to giving the visitors the lead, but fired just wide of Shay Given’s goal.
Ronaldo, who tormented the inexperienced Newcastle defence all match, gave Saha the chance to make amends for his earlier miss, but this time the Frenchman was thwarted by an impressive save from Given.
The striker then had a header blocked on the line from Giggs’ cross, before his miserable day was complete when he came off with an injury.
Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men still looked formidable opposition and when Newcastle took the lead it not only stunned the leaders but also the crowd at St James’.
Milner, one of Newcastle’s players of the campaign so far, was quick on to Dyer’s pass and after cutting in from the left flank smashed in a superb 25-yard shot high into the roof of Van der Sar’s goal.
If one thing let Newcastle down earlier in the season it was their defence, and with three first-choice defenders out injured the home side were always going to find it difficult to keep this fantastic Manchester United side at bay.
And true to form, the visitors bounced back courtesy of a bit of magic from Scholes.
The little maestro tricked past two Newcastle challenges on the edge of the area to fire in low.
It was what Ferguson’s team deserved and straight after the break Scholes scored his second with another wondrous effort.
The midfielder was fed a square ball and took little time to fire a low drive through the legs of defender Steven Taylor and past a helpless Given.
It looked all over for Glenn Roeder’s men until Edgar decided to make a rare foray into the opposition’s half.
The Canadian, making his first start for the club as a replacement for the injured Nicky Butt, ventured down the left and hit an opportunist strike that took a slight deflection off Scholes and beat the hand of Van der Sar.
The visitors feverishly looked for a late winner, but their best opportunity, a Ronaldo header, was cleared off the line by an alert Nolberto Solano.
Man Utd Blog Man Of The Match-:
Scholesy– class act. Saved even greater United blushes.