Title chase is down to three

It is a curious thing that the concept of leagues within the Premiership has grown in acceptance in recent years despite Manchester United's monopoly. This season, because of the excited frenzy that has accompanied the champions' alleged drop in standards, the notion has gained ever greater credibility.

It feels like there is a lot of wishful thinking involved in this. However, on Saturday night, after a former PSV Eindhoven striker, Eidur Gudjohnsen, had undone Newcastle United for the first time in a month to leave the top six separated by six points, it could be argued there was a mini-league at the top.

Within the space of 24 hours that idea lost ground rapidly. Liverpool drew, Chelsea lost, Leeds beat West Ham? and now this sixth consecutive Premiership win by Manchester United - and everything has changed. Another former PSV man initiated the alteration last night, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Suddenly only three teams look capable of winning the title - the three at the top.

That this was Alex Ferguson's side first victory in that mini-league of six should be a more revealing statistic than it is. But the defenders and contenders have inflicted defeats upon each other every bit as damaging as those on the Mancunians.

Newcastle arrived with history in mind. And on their mind. The visitors were 40 days and 40 nights short of the 30th anniversary of Newcastle's last victory here, when "Hallelujah" John Tudor scored in a 2-0 win. Since then it has been battering after battering, interspersed with the odd draw.

That has had a gradual effect in eroding Newcastle's confidence about what can be achieved at Old Trafford. That reached such a stage that after the opening day 2-0 loss here last season Bobby Robson was to say: "Our season starts now." It was about the last time Robson sounded downhearted.

Robson was expecting problems last night and he wasn't disappointed. His worst fears were confirmed by Juan Sebastien Veron's sixth-minute spurt down the right and Sylvain Distin's difficulty in dealing with the cross.

Distin looked uncomfortable then, but that was out of keeping with Newcastle's vibrant beginning, at least when going forward.

But, as Newcastle followers know all too well, it has been less certain at the back. Andy O'Brien had been dropped for his poor display against Chelsea at St James' Park on Saturday, but his replacement was Nikos Dabizas, a man who has been sent off here in the past. And there were moments of doubt even before Ruud Van Nistelrooy's free header from six yards. Shay Given scuffed a clearance; Van Nistelrooy worried every time he got near the ball.

Aside from the Dutchman's intervention against Robson, his old manager at PSV, perhaps the sight that dismayed the Geordies most came two minutes later when Laurent Blanc dispossessed Craig Bellamy as the Welshman tried to surge past him.

Given that Bellamy's leaving of Blanc prostrate on the St James' turf in September has become one of the images of the season, and of Manchester's supposed decline, there was a huge burst of home applause at Blanc's successful challenge. Bellamy looked distressed. Of those in black and white he was not the only one.

Guardian Service