United overcome slow start to regain seven-point lead
Berbatov scored United's winner on his return to the starting line up
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Wednesday, 04, Mar 2009 11:04
Manchester United have come from a goal behind to beat Newcastle United 2-1 to reclaim their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
It was United's 11th consecutive league victory, however, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was unable to keep his run of clean sheets going after a blunder in the first half.
Despite that error, goals from Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov either side of half-time gave Alex Ferguson's side all three points.
United made seven changes from the starting XI that won the Carling Cup and Rooney and Berbatov proved to be the crucial recalls to the team.
Peter Lovenkrands gave Newcastle a surprise early lead after a rare error from van der Sar.
Following a United corner the Magpies launched a quick counter-attack. Jose Enrique cut the ball back to Jonas Gutierrez but van der Sar failed to hold on to the Argentinean's weak shot, allowing Lovenkrands to pounce on the rebound.
The Magpies were on fire at the start of the match and almost doubled their lead five minutes later. Pace was once more the key for the home side as Lovenkrands sprinted clear before playing in Obafemi Martins but his shot hit the side-netting.
Martins nearly broke through the United defence again before being taken down by Nemanja Vidic before he could get into the box and get a shot off.
Newcastle wasted the free-kick and were left to regret it one minute later. John O'Shea and Ji-Sung Park linked up to find Wayne Rooney on the edge of the box, he turned well and a crucial deflection helped his shot past Steve Harper.
Just before half-time there was a heated exchange between Cristiano Ronaldo and Newcastle's Steven Taylor when the Magpies' defender appeared to raise his arm and elbow Ronaldo in the throat.
Referee Steve Bennet gave Taylor a yellow card but the United players and staff felt Taylor should have seen red and continued their remonstrations down the tunnel at half time.
The second half continued in a similar vein; with Vidic claiming that the diminutive Martins had also elbowed him but the referee saw nothing wrong with the Nigerian's challenge.
United were increasing the pressure on the Magpies as the half wore on but it was through a mistake by Steven Taylor that the visitors were able to take the lead.
Taylor attempted to chest the ball back to his goalkeeper but his pass never looked like having enough pace on it to reach Harper and Park was able to intercept it.
The South Korean then squared a simple pass to Berbatov who tapped home from six yards out.
United pressed for a third but found Harper in good form during the second half, the Magpies' stopper saved well from Rooney and then tipped Berbatov's drive over the bar.
Newcastle fought hard to stay in the match but ultimately could not break down United's defence for a second time.
The defeat leaves Newcastle one point and two places above the relegation zone.