Report: United 4 Newcastle 3

cross-shot which Evans, in his attempts to intercept, could only divert inside De Gea’s post.

There appeared to be an unlikely reprieve for the Reds as the goal was quickly apparently chalked off for offside, but referee Mike Dean consulted his assistant and duly concluded that Evans had applied the finish, rather than the lurking Papiss Cisse.

Having so quickly surrendered a position of promise once again, United’s game retook an uneasy air, while Newcastle were seemingly first to every ball. Matters almost worsened for the league leaders when Sylvan Marveaux curled a free-kick against De Gea’s crossbar, but the interval arrived with a one-goal deficit reflecting kindly on United’s display.

The second period began with greater promise than the first, with van Persie volleying wide from Giggs’ centre, but Newcastle defended aggressively; holding a high line and snapping into challenges with on-going vigour. The Magpies also continued to threaten at the other end, with Ba flashing a header over from Cisse’s cross.

Shortly before the hour-mark, with the visitors apparently holding firm, United levelled out of nothing. Van Persie’s cross was tamely headed away by Perch, straight to Evra. The skipper took a touch and fired a venomous low effort through Ba’s legs and underneath the fingertips of Krul, bagging the Frenchman's fourth goal of a