Full time: Manchester United 2 Newcastle 0

Glenn Roeder said:

"I still believe that what we tried to do was the correct thing to do. Arsenal came here and did exactly the same thing with a five man midfield and a lone striker and, with the quality they had, they won 1-0.

"We got within four minutes of the break at 0-0 and the system had worked perfectly but goals change the face of games. Once they went 1-0 up we were always going to struggle to get anything on the counter attack. It was a bad goal to concede. 

With the midfield players they have, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Wayne Rooney dropping deep, we felt it was too much for Scott Parker and Emre to deal with on their own so we brought Nicky Butt in there. It didn't come off but we are not the only team in the Premiership to struggle to contain Ronaldo and Rooney. They are two of the finest young players in the world, let alone this country, and they haven't peaked yet."

"We conceded the lion's share of possession to them and I didn't expect us to concede as much possession as we did. That made it difficult for us."

"Although my players never gave up it is difficult for me to pick out any positive performances, although Steve Harper made a couple of excellent saves and that will have done wonders for his confidence. I'm disappointed going into the international break with only seven points. We have dropped points at home. We should never have lost to Fulham and we dropped two points against Everton as well."

"We needed Shola's physical presence up front, which is why he played instead of Obafemi Martins. But we also have Giuseppe Rossi and we have been very impressed with him as a player and a person. He hasn't been able to play in Europe and he couldn't play against Manchester United because of Premier League rules but he will start games soon. I don't see any reason why he cannot play up alongside Martins. He is a clever player and aware of what is going on around him. He is capable of finding Martins' runs and slotting him in."

"Everyone, and I mean everyone, is finding it hard to cope with Cristiano Ronaldo."

"He picks up pace so quickly he could be an athlete. I certainly would not like to be a full-back trying to stop him."

"Along with Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry, he is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous players in the Premiership."

"He doesn't appear to have been bothered by anything that went on during the World Cup and it is amazing to think he is going to get even better."

Alex Ferguson said:

"It is important to be top at any time: now we are in that position, we want to stay there. I realise there are a lot of fantastic games ahead but we have something to hold onto now and we do not intend to surrender it.

About tormenter Ronaldo:

"Nothing fazes Cristiano: e has been marvellous all season and, while it is difficult to say with any certainty, maybe what happened to him at the World Cup could turn out to be a defining moment in his career.

"I could see the potential for greatness the first time I saw him in training and he has a great future ahead of him.

"It is terrific for Ole to score and great for the fans, who idolise him and take great pride in what he achieves here. At 31, he made a decision to have an operation he knew would keep him out for 18 months."

"That takes great courage and a lot of belief. He always felt he would come back and since he returned for pre-season training this summer, he has not missed a session.

"He has got better every week and I am sure he will get even better still."

In our hearts of hearts this wasn't a shock. Indeed we will admit to some mild surprise that Harper didn't have to pick the ball out of his net at least twice more.

As it was though, Glenn Roeder's attempt to become the first Newcastle boss to win here in the league since Joe Harvey was doomed to failure from the outset.

And for Peter Ramage and his fellow defenders there was nothing more in the solace department than having prevented Rooney what had seemed an inevitable goal to end his scoring drought.

At the risk of over-analysing things, even in the kick-in we looked a beaten side, knocking the ball around in a distinctly lack-lustre and joyless manner. It certainly wasn't a burden of expectation.

In holding Fergie's boys for most of the first half we seemed to be delaying the inevitable: a semi-fit Shola being isolated up front due to our inability to provide adequate support.

That came as no shock, but to hear Roeder's post-game admission that he'd been inspired by Arsenal's smash and grab raid earlier this season was something of an own goal.

To play in the Wenger style requires players with the class, talent and discipline to carry it off - those Roeder was able to call upon today were lacking in all three.
      
And when our three replacements had been made, Old Trafford was then treated to the ludicrous spectacle of Luque continuing to warm up.

Either he was so unaware of proceedings that he'd failed to see the three substitutions, or was just taking the proverbial. And what of the coaching staff? Similarly unaware or just glad to see the back of him for a few minutes? Low comedy again from us.

Better Newcastle sides than this present one have come here and been soundly beaten, regardless of the tactics employed.

Try as we may though, we cannot stoke up any real annoyance at having suffered yet another defeat in our Theatre of Nightmares.

Like the annual Anfield examination that we routinely flunk, this one goes in the contractual obligation category for travelling Mags - came, saw, lost, left.

We however remain more than a tad peed off at the lack of quality, care, intelligence and professionalism that brought precisely one point from home matches against Fulham and Everton.

There's no pressure on Glenn Roeder in our eyes after this loss, but were the upcoming home games against Bolton, Charlton and Sheffield United to see no discernible improvement in points collection, then the restlessness of the crowd and media would doubtless transfer itself to the boardroom - and we know what that means.

Biffa

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