Match Report - Manchester United 3-0 Newcastle United

Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 8pm, Monday 16th August
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (Home)
Attendance: 75,221

 
If you want proof that Paul Scholes is the best midfielder in England, you've got it - 104 successful passes inside 90 minutes. The 35-year-old veteran ran the show in a packed Theatre Of Dreams as United forced three past Newcastle. Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher were the first half names on the score-sheet, with good 'ol Ryan Giggs following suit late on.

Scholes and Fletcher played former Red Alan Smith and Joey Barton off the field, as the pair controlled the game. Patrice Evra returned early to the home side, with Nemanja Vidic acting as captain. Wayne Rooney and Berbatov featured up-front, despite rumours stating Wazza was unfit.

It was a great day in Manchester, and a fantastic night at Old Trafford, as the seventy thousand odd fans at the ground got ready for the new season. Both teams were involved in a sparring match for the first half-hour, with The Reds having the advantage in terms of possession.

But as teams like Arsenal know, possession counts for nothing unless you make use of it - and Berba did just that. Scholes played-in the Bulgarian striker on the edge of the box, and Berba took the shot first time - drilling it into the far side of Steve Harper's goal...

Luis Nani and Antonio Valencia were doing a marvelous job on the flanks, with the Portuguese making successful runs into the box, and the Ecuadoran supplying the right hand side. Then in the 41st minute, 8 minutes after the first goal, Nani played in Evra, who ran into the are and cued for Rooney...

In turn, Roo passed to Fletcher in the six-yard box - who quickly shot into the open right bottom corner. 2-0 up at the break, and playing entertaining attacking football - what more could you wish for ?

After half-time, The Red Devils continued attacking, with The Magpies counter-attacking on the rare occasion. Berbatov had two glorious opportunities to add to his tally, but the first was saved, the second went wide. Scholesy was playing a blinder, and again impressed when he raced into the box time after time.

Scholes was then hauled-down inside the penalty area, but referee Chris Foy waved away the appeals, replays show United actually had a point. Foy went on to embarrass himself by booking Fletcher and Scholes for slide tackles in which they both won the ball.

Despite the boo's towards the officials, it didn't really make much of a difference as Sir Alex's men pressed for more goals in an attempt to catch-up with Chelsea, who hit 6 past West Brom on Saturday. Chicharito made his home debut with 30 minutes to go, replacing Rooney - who worked well, but couldn't find the net.

Then with just five minutes to go, Scholes picked-out veteran team-mate Giggs, who volleyed off the turf and into the corner of the net. The cherry on top for United, who could have easily equaled The Blue's goal count on the weekend. Nevertheless, it was the start to the season that we all wanted to see...

United Team: Edwin Van Der Sar, Patrice Evra (Rafael Da Silva, '87), Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Luis Nani (Ryan Giggs, '71), Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney (Chicharito, '63)

Goals: Berbatov '33, Fletcher '41, Giggs '85
Bookings: Fletcher '56

• Video Highlights: United 3-0 Newcastle