REPORT : United 2 Newcastle 0

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer netted twice as the Red Devils brushed aside the challenge from Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Not since April 2003 has Solskjaer found the net in league combat at the Theatre of Dreams but the 33-year-old showed all his old instinct to put the Red Devils ahead before half-time before sending Nemanja Vidic's volley looping into the net two minutes into the second period.

So poor were the Magpies, the only disappointment for United, aside from an injury to Gabriel Heinze, was their failure to score more often.

Cristiano Ronaldo in particular endured a frustrating afternoon, striking the frame of Newcastle's goal on three separate occasions as he tortured their defence.

The excellent Darren Fletcher was also denied by the woodwork, and the agility of visitors' keeper Steve Harper, who pulled off a string of fine saves to keep the margin of defeat within reasonable proportions.

As a contest, it was a massive disappointment, with Newcastle barely contributing as an attacking force and an anticipated midfield scrap between England past and future never materialising.

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