United Fails To Beat Spirited Newcastle (Newcastle 2 - Manchester United 2)

On paper this was supposed to be a game which we should have won convincingly, especially given the kind of injuries Newcastle was facing. But as we all know, there are no such things as easy games in the EPL, especially against a team who has Titus Bramble injured. There hasn't been a more convincing case of addition by subtraction here.

We started the game playing better, but failed to take our chances. As the game wore on, Newcastle, led by Parker, grow in confidence. With the crowd behind them, they deservedly took the lead in the 33rd minute with a stunning strike by James Milner.

That goal galvanised United out of their slumber. We attacked with purpose and were rewarded in the 40th minute when Scholes danced thru the entire Newcastle defense and scored.

Both teams traded punches with neither able to beat the opponent's keeper. The game was flowing and it was end to end stuff. Probably one of the best ends to a first half I've seen this entire season.

Given what had transpired in the first half, the second half was a let down. Scholes gave us the lead in the 1st minute when the game resumed, and United went back into sleepwalk mode. I personally fell asleep until Newcastle scored the equalizer with 15 minutes left in the game. 19 year old Edgar, a youth defender brought up into the first team only because of their injury problems, scored from way way outside the penalty box.

I was expecting a avalanche of United attacks, but it never really materialised. It was more of a cough and splatter kind of response. All credit to Newcastle who defended stoutly and played well.

In truth we lost 2 points in a game we tried to sleepwalk through. However given the schedule, we've done well in this festive period. We took 10 points out of 12 and I don't think any team even came close to that record. And on top of that we're 7 points ahead of Chelsea, who has a game in hand. Let's hope they continue with their piss poor defending against Villa tomorrow.