Leaders draw from depths of willpower

Newcastle Utd 0 Manchester Utd 0:THE PREMIER League leaders had to settle merely for inching nearer the title. Neither Manchester United nor their opponents had it in them to take a long and bold stride. In stoppage time Javier Hernandez sought a penalty but was booked because the referee believed he had manufactured any contact with Danny Simpson, who insisted the referee got it right. "To be honest, I didn't feel like I touched him, maybe he went over too soft," Simpson said.

“It was a clear penalty,” Alex Ferguson said. “It’s an insult because he’s booked him. I thought the referee had a good game tonight, but he’s let himself down by booking the player.”

This draw with Newcastle United put the Old Trafford team seven points ahead of Arsenal, whose game in hand is against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane tonight. The visitors to this ground would have known it was a time for gritted teeth more than incisive football.

A loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final could hardly be devastating for a side still intent on winning the Premier League and Champions League but the nature of the game at Wembley may have perturbed Ferguson more than the result itself. After half an hour City achieved a degree of control that was maintained until the end. Manchester United looked increasingly jaded.

At least the manager is not forced to call for more effort from every player when several appear weary. United have the means to change the selection even if it is impossible to keep fatigue entirely at bay. Hernandez did not start the semi-final, Ryan Giggs was rested and that fixture completed Wayne Rooney’s ban. All three were on the field from the start at St James’ Park but there was no prospect of an immediate barrage inspired by that trio when Newcastle had such an appetite of their own for attacking.

The flaw in that honourable intention was the bluntness of the work in and around the goalmouth before half-time.

In one episode Giggs found himself just in front of his centre backs and took the notion of a holding midfielder literally as he grabbed Jonas Gutierrez. The situation appeared promising but Joey Barton’s free-kick went meekly into the arms of Edwin van der Sar.

United had a notable absentee, with Rio Ferdinand sidelined by a calf strain, but neither side had cause to be apprehensive in the opening 45 minutes. If anything set the visitors apart, it was the knowledge that this game had the potential to make the league title more likely still. That purpose became visible to a concerned home support in a period before the interval that led Ferguson’s players to cluster in and around the Newcastle area.

That siege turned out to be half-hearted and it was Alan Pardew’s players who then had the clearest opportunity, bungling though the finish turned out to be. A Barton delivery found Peter Lovenkrands in space after 43 minutes, yet he still misconnected to send a header wide. Despite that disappointment the home crowd was cheerful, if not euphoric, at having nullified United to a large extent.

Until now there has been a justified emphasis on the scale of Ferguson’s squad and the manner in which he has varied the line-up to retain freshness. That trick is not working quite so well in this gruelling period of the season. Ferguson would still have been concerned if not surprised by the traces of fatigue in his men.

There was a certain impetus to United in the opening phase of the second half, but this looked an evening for willpower rather than inspiration. Rooney, for example, looked full of intensity when firing a pass to Nani but the winger’s drive was aimless.

It was impossible for the visitors in that period to create any sense of an onslaught. The nature of the contest also reflected well on Newcastle. Their campaign has been more than satisfactory and they are virtually safe now from the fear of relegation.

Spirits were high which, of course, can also be attributed to the mere presence of United since victory is craved over a side of such renown.

The visitors could not ease the difficulties when their play was generally laboured and when a prime opening arrived it was squandered. Hernandez passed to Patrice Evra but his cut-back was mishit by Giggs and flew wide. The Welshman could hardly believe he had been so clumsy. It was a night suffused with frustration.

NEWCASTLE UTD: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ireland 69), Ameobi (Ranger 72). Subs not used: Soderberg, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Kuqi. Booked: Tiote, Williamson.

MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Nani (Owen 80), Carrick, Anderson (Valencia 70), Giggs, Hernandez, Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Evans, Gibson. Booked: Carrick, Hernandez.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).