Manchester United lost ground at the head of the table as Newcastle produced a battling performance to take a rare point from Old Trafford.

"A terrible match" - BBC Radio 5 Live's Alan Green

In truth though the Tynesiders' goal was rarely threatened by a Manchester side which failed to capture the form of recent weeks.

Newcastle had German Dietmar Hamann returning for his first game since August. The German's recovery from injury coincided with Alan Shearer's promotion to captain in the absence of Rob Lee and Stuart Pearce.

Roy Keane beats Alan Sheare in the air

Phil Neville missed out for the home side after failing to recover from an injury picked up in midweek - Wes Brown came in at right back.

Paul Dalglish was at the heart of a lot of Newcastle's good early work but they were always wary of Manchester United's rapid counter-attacks.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given who was forced to make the first save.

He had already been given an early warning when Paul Scholes shot wide after back-heels by Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke split the Newcastle defence open.

Given then got down to his right to palm away Jesper Blomqvist's goal-bound effort from the edge of the area.

But Peter Schmeichel was called into action on 22 minutes. Shearer took a quick free kick, won by Dalglish on the edge of the area when he was fouled by Jaap Stam.

The Danish keeper seemed to slip and fumbled the ball, but no Newcastle player was quick enough to get to the ball.

Penalty claim

Newcastle had a strong penalty claim when Denis Irwin collided with Dalglish in the area after Schmeichel had come racing out of his area and missed the ball. But referee Steve Dunn ignored the protests from those in black and white.

Things livened up straight after the break with Shearer booked for a challenge on Roy Keane, and then the Irishman playing an inviting ball into the box for Cole. The striker turned well but skied his shot into the stand.

Dalglish was then handed an excellent opportunity as Wes Brown's attempted back pass found him in the area, but Schmeichel was quick to close down the danger and blocked his shot.

Alex Ferguson decided to make changes with 12 minutes of the second half gone.

David Beckham: Wasted the best chance of the game

Ronny Johnsen replaced Brown at right back, although the Norwegian did not finish the game as his return from injury was spoilt by an apparent recurrence of his problem.

The Manchester side began to step up the pressure and after one goalmouth scramble Gary Neville put Beckham clear behind the Tynesiders' defence.

But the England man missed the best chance of the game so far - failing to hit the target with only Given to beat.

Then it was Ruud Gullit's turn to ring the changes, as the Dutchman brought Gary Speed on for Hamman.

His well-organised side continued to frustrate the home team, who appeared to be still feeling the effects of their midweek walkover of Brondby in Europe.

Given was only rarely called into action during a flat second half, as was Schmeichel, although the Dane did have to save a Shearer free kick.

Yorke had an opportunity but Given gathered the ball at his feet after Cole had put him through, then Cole could not convert a chance created by Blomqvist.

That was the Swede's last serious contribution as Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was thrown on with minutes to go in a last throw of the dice by Ferguson.

Beckham was offered a final opportunity in his favourite position - a free kick on the edge of the area.

But he blasted the ball into the wall to end a disappointing afternoon as the Old Trafford side slipped back to third in the table.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, Neville, Irwin, Stam, Beckham, Cole, Blomqvist, Keane, Scholes, Yorke, Brown. Subs: Johnsen, Butt, Cruyff, Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Hughes, Charvet, Dabizas, Hamann, Batty, Glass, Shearer, Georgiadis, Dalglish. Subs: Harper, Pearce, Solano, Barton, Speed.