NEWCASTLE UNITED struggled to find sufficient inspiration to interrupt Manchester United's lap of honour at Old Trafford last night. Needing to win to move into second place, they lacked the imagination to unsettle their opponents' defence.
Manchester United were in the rare position of being able to do Anfield a favour at no cost to themselves. They were already champions once more. Now, by beating Newcastle, they could enhance Liverpool's prospects of finishing runners-up and reaching the qualifying round of the next Champions' League.
Much depended on the extent to which Alex Ferguson's players could address themselves to the job in hand in an atmosphere of heady celebration.
From a Newcastle point of view, it appeared an opportunity too good to miss, a chance to steal a march on Arsenal and Liverpool while Old Trafford noses were still full of champagne bubbles.
The continued absence of Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, still nursing injuries, and the fact that Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin, two more recent casualties, were on the bench must have sharpened their anticipation.
So while Kenny Dalglish's players applauded their opponents on to the pitch, they were clearly not there merely to provide a standing ovation. And, of course, they had already beaten Manchester United 5-0 this season.
The sight of Roy Keane, who had fallen awkwardly in a tackle with Alan Shearer, leaving the scene after only 10 minutes did nothing to quell Newcastle's optimism. Keane was replaced by Brian McClair, who was soon lucky to escape a yellow card for the mistimed tackle which brought down Shearer near the edge of the penalty area. Shearer also failed to punish the offence as his free-kick cleared the bar.
On other evenings, with other referees, Pavel Srnicek might have seen red on the quarter-hour. The Newcastle goalkeeper raced beyond the penalty area to meet a long through ball from McClair which had Andy Cole in pursuit. Srnicek then sliced his clearance and as Cole pounced he appeared to wrestle the striker to the ground. However, Steve Dunn ruled that Cole had been the offender.
Three minutes before the half-hour, Phil Neville's through pass form his own half sent Cole clear. This time, Srnicek managed to deny him a shot simply by closing down the angles. Cole laid the ball back to Karel Poborsky, who sent a gentle lob dipping over the bar.
The champions should have been ahead by then, but Eric Cantona, given a clear sight of goal in the 42nd minute, produced a weak shot; this time last season the Frenchman would have buried such a chance.
The second half found Newcastle continuing to pass laterally - without achieving much penetration. Warren Barton relieved Schmeichel's boredom with a 20-yard drive after Shearer had laid the ball back, but the shot hardly troubled the Manchester United goalkeeper.
Until Paul Scholes hit the left-hand angle of post and bar in the 56th minute, only John Beresford's late tackle on Gary Neville and the retaliation which brought the England defender a booking enlivened the proceedings.
Five-minutes later, Cole glanced the ball against the Newcastle bar from the narrowest of angles near the right-hand byline.
. Ken Doherty, an avid Manchester United supporter, has been given permission by the manager Alex Ferguson to parade his Embassy World Championship snooker trophy at half-time at Old Trafford on Sunday when United play West Ham.
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