Man Utd rout Newcastle 3-0 in their EPL opener thanks to a vintage display from the midfielder
Man Utd rout Newcastle 3-0 in their EPL opener thanks to a vintage display from the midfielder
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The Red Devils began the game with Berbatov partnering Wayne Rooney up front, with new signings Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling on the bench and no room at all in the squad for former Magpie Michael Owen.
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| Dimitar Berbatov celebrates after scoring Manchester United's opener against Newcastle yesterday. PIC/GETTY IMAGES |
Packed in the middle
The visitors, meanwhile, started with a five-man midfield, a lone striker in the shape of Andy Carroll whilst also handing a Newcastle debut to new signing James Perch at right back.
Yet Newcastle began the game well and had the best chance of the opening exchanges on the 10 minute mark. A corner in from Joey Barton found Carroll, completely free having lost his marker, but the striker conspired to head wide from six yards.
It was to prove a costly miss for the visitors as after an indifferent start, Sir Alex Ferguson's men slowly took control of the match and opening the scoring just after the half hour mark.
Antonio Valencia poached the ball from Jonas Guterriez and found Paul Scholes who slid a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Berbatov to smash low, back across goal and beat Steve Harper.
On the double
The goal was all the encouragement the home side needed and less than 10 minutes later they doubled their lead thanks to Darren Fletcher.
Some good work down the left found Nani sliding in Patrice Evra who drove a ball across the box; Rooney managed to get a touch but couldn't control it however the ball fell perfectly to the Scot to slot home from close range.
The second half began in much the same fashion, with the home side content to dictate proceedings and Paul Scholes at the heart of everything for Manchester United.
After picking up a customary booking for a late challenge on Nolan, the midfielder had a claim for a penalty after swapping passes with Berbatov before taking a tumble after contact with Coloccini yet referee Chris Foy waved his appeals away. Seconds later the 35-year-old was involved again finding Rooney on the edge of the box, who dinked in a ball to Berbatov. The Bulgarian just had Harper to beat but slid his shot just wide of the post with the outside of this boot.
Chances continued to come for Nani and Berbatov, yet it was another substitute, Ryan Giggs who was to add further gloss to the scoreline. Again Scholes was the creator lofting the ball into the Welshman who volleyed it into the far corner to seal a convincing victory for the home team who travel to Fulham next, a ground on which they have struggled in recent seasons.
33rd minute
Newcastle's are slow to clear the ball after a Man Utd attack and Jonas Gutierrez is dispossessed by Luis Valencia. He plays the ball forward to Paul Scholes who picks out Dimitar Berbatov inside the Newcastle box on the right. He slams it low across Steve Harper and into the far corner of the net.
42nd minute
Nani takes his time before laying it back to Patrice Evra down the United left and the Frenchman's low, driven cross takes a touch off Wayne Rooney before falling for Darren Fletcher six yards out, He rolls Fabricio Coloccini and slams past Steve Harper to double the lead.
85th minute
Newcastle give the ball away deep in their own half and United switch it to Scholes 30 yards out. He plays a lovely ball in the air to the equally ageless Ryan Giggs on the left and his volley flies into the ground and into the net.
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