Cole-fired victory

Manchester United again sit four points clear at the top of the Premiership after another thrilling encounter with Newcastle United at St James's Park.

The game was an almost carbon copy of their meeting two seasons ago when Manchester United won a crucial victory as they overhauled Newcastle's 12-point lead. Then, as now, Newcastle threw everything they had at Manchester United, but once again the Red Devils walked off with the points.

Eric Cantona scored the only goal then. Andy Cole did it this time, but in both games Peter Schmeichel was the match winner.

Twice he made world class saves from powerful headers - one from Barnes and another from Pearce, leaping like a salmon to paw away bullets which seemed destined for the back of the net. On another occasion as the giant Dane appeared to be beaten, yet another Barnes header flashed past his left-hand upright.

This time there was no lead at the top of the Premiership at stake for Newcastle, no chance even of the Premiership title, just their rivalry with Manchester United and the memory of last season's 5-0 drubbing to spur on the home team.

Stung by midweek boos after their goalless draw with Derby, Newcastle raised their game to match the league leaders and had the better of a goalless first half.

Even so, the danger was always there. Seconds after Schmeichel had kept Barnes out, Shaka Hislop in the Newcastle goal, was forced to make an equally good save to deny Cole.

The former Newcastle striker had the time and skill to make several touches in Newcastle's area, before pushing the ball past Pearce and finding the space to hit a powerful shot. But Hislop had come out to narrow the angle and make the save.

Newcastle came out in the second half determined to redouble the pressure on Manchester United. But the champions' defence held firm, and 20 seconds after Pearce had smashed a free kick into the Manchester United wall, Newcastle were one down.

Giggs found Phil Neville on the break. He made yards on the left, passed the ball inside to Butt, who played a short ball on to Beckham on the right of Newcastle's area.

He had time to pick out Cole with an inch-perfect cross, and the former Geordie favourite powered his header past Hislop.

Manchester could have scored twice as Newcastle reeled, but the Magpies fought their way back into the game, and Asprilla could have settled it with the last kick of the game. However, the Colombian lifted his lob over the bar.

Roy Hodgson, the Blackburn manager, and Ruud Gullit, his Chelsea counterpart, will have been as disappointed at the end of the match as the Newcastle supporters. But once again Manchester United are the Premiership Christmas fairies - top of the tree.