Newcastle View: Old Trafford Stalemate

Jermaine Jenas came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 56th minute when his header came back off the crossbar.

After 26 minutes, Shearer reached an under-hit Gary Neville back pass before goalkeeper Tim Howard took him down. To his (and my) surprise, the referee (Paul Durkin) waved play on!

However, the referee later admitted that he was WRONG about the penalty decision, following an "ask the ref" comment from Shearer.

A storm of protest from travelling Magpies' fans followed, along with skipper Shearer racing 40 yards to make his point clear too.

The game was totally out of character, as the Magpies carried just about all of the threat upfront.

Reds defender John O'Shea headed away a Laurent Robert free-kick before Silvestre did even better to block a piledriver from Jonathan Woodgate.

Diego Forlan for Ryan Giggs arrived on the pitch for the home side at half-time, but neither could get a goal. O'Shea and Kleberson both failed to deliver decent crosses from wide positions.

The game was full of chances, as Gary Speed clipped a Forlan cross away from danger under pressure from Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Silvestre put the ball in the net on 65 minutes following a Kleberson corner - but he debatably "shoved" Newcastle's Andy O'Brien and had the goal disallowed.

It took Irish 'keeper Shay Given two attempts to save a Paul Scholes shot, before Diego Forlan forced another full-length stop from the Newcastle goalkeeper (after Gary Speed gave possession away).