Manchester United 0 - 0 Newcastle United

Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle

Updated: January 11, 2004, 6:25 PM UK

The eagerly-anticipated shoot-out between Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alan Shearer fizzled out with barely a whimper as Manchester United and Newcastle drew 0-0 at Old Trafford.

Two of the Premiership's most deadly front-men barely fashioned a chance between them on a day when defences ruled but as the home side celebrated the point which allowed them to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the league, the Magpies will lament the decision which cost them victory.

• Durkin: I got 'penalty' wrong

When Shearer sees a television replay of the incident midway through the first half when the former England captain clashed with Tim Howard inside the United box, his initial feeling it was a penalty will be confirmed.

He won the race to reach Gary Neville's underhit back pass and was sent sprawling by the United keeper, who arrived an instant later.

To the visitors' disbelief referee Paul Durkin waved away the appeals and Shearer was denied the chance to give his side a lead they would have deserved.

After a poor start, United battled back and had their own tale of woe to fall back on when Mikael Silvestre's second-half effort was ruled out for a debatable shove on Andy O'Brien.

Though it ended the home side's eight-match winning streak and extended Newcastle's 32-year wait for an Old Trafford win, neither side will be too displeased at the outcome which enhances their respective championship and Champions League aspirations.

Sixteen goals in two meetings between the teams last season had raised the prospect of another Old Trafford goal-fest but instead, the opening period was pretty subdued.

The attacking invention that was on show almost exclusively came from Newcastle and it was the Magpies who produced the only real talking point when Shearer was taken down by Howard.

After twice turning down United earlier in his career, the former England captain never lacks incentive to show Sir Alex Ferguson what he missed and the denial of an opportunity to score from the spot brought an on-going dialogue with Durkin that lasted most of the half.

Laurent Robert came closest to actually opening the scoring in that lacklustre first period, bending a free-kick wide of the home goal, although Howard did appear to have it covered.

At the other end, Shay Given had only two saves to make. It took van Nistelrooy 44 minutes to fashion his first shooting opportunity, a long-range shot which flicked off Jonathan Woodgate and was comfortably collected by the Irishman.

Given should have been tested by Ryan Giggs in stoppage time but the Welshman only headed Kleberson's cross into the keeper's arms.

The lack of forward momentum said much about the respective defensive displays.

Woodgate marshalled a Magpies defence lacking Titus Bramble superbly, while Rio Ferdinand, who has nine days to decide whether to appeal against his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test, was also foot perfect, while Mikael Silvestre engaged in a physical duel with Shearer which finished about even.

The arrival of Diego Forlan for Giggs at the start of the second half was a surprise and presumably injury enforced.

Forlan's appearance coincided with United's best spell of the match but it was the visitors who carved out the next decent chance when Jenas smacked his header against the bar.

Stunned by the rare experience of being outplayed on their own pitch, the Red Devils were roused by a couple of crunching Silvestre challenges.

It might not have been the most creative moment of the game but it provided United with the stimulus to pile forward.

Given needed two attempts to save Scholes' long-range effort before Forlan took a stray Gary Speed pass in his stride and unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt the Newcastle keeper gathered at full stretch.

If Given had generally enjoyed as easy ride in the first half, the second was proving much more eventful. He might have been caught out had Kleberson not lofted a chip over the visitors bar when Forlan put him through but his handling was again secure with three United forwards in attendance as he clutched Fortune's snap shot.

Not that the direction of the game had changed entirely. It took an excellent penalty box challenge from Ferdinand to rob Robert as the Frenchman raced onto Shearer's through-ball at full pace, and Silvestre was not far behind when he swooped to dispossess Dyer, who was also speeding through.

Durkin: I got 'penalty' wrong

Paul Durkin admitted he should have awarded Newcastle a first-half penalty when Alan Shearer was tripped by United goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The referee accepted he was not up with play and could not definitely see contact.

'It happened so quickly. I was expecting the ball to be played upfield and I was caught quite a distance from play and I was just totally uncertain,' Durkin told Sky Sports.

'Obviously I've seen it on the replays and there is contact there. From where I am, unless I'm 100% certain that there's been contact then I can't give the penalty and that was the case.'

Durkin, who stood by his decision to disallow a Mikael Silvestre goal for a foul on Andy O'Brien, added: 'I am disappointed from a personal point of view because we like to get the big ones right.

'But people need to understand it happens so quick and I've got a split second to make a decision.'

Shearer was mystified by Durkin's decision, adding: 'We should have had a penalty and if I was playing in red I would have had a penalty.

'But it's too much to ask to give Alan Shearer a penalty at the Stretford End. I asked him "why didn't you book me for diving if you didn't think it was a penalty?" and he said, "I didn't think you dived". Work that one out.'

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson agreed that Shearer should have been awarded a penalty - but claimed Durkin had been wrong to rule out Silvestre's strike.

'I listened to Paul Durkin and I didn't agree. I thought it was a perfectly good goal, just as I thought it was a penalty kick.

'Paul Durkin is right when he says he wants to get the big decisions right - but he's given himself a get-out clause.'

Ferguson was adamant his team could and should have taken all three points despite Newcastle dominating the first half.

'We could have won it. We had the better chances, better spells of pressure. They pressed the ball everywhere and showed determination but didn't really make any chances.'

The United boss also revealed Ryan Giggs was unlikely to be fit for next Saturday's trip to Wolves after being replaced by Diego Forlan at half-time because of injury.

'He pulled a muscle in his back so unfortunately we had to take him off. It's too early to say but I should imagine he won't play next Saturday.'

Sir Bobby Robson 'applauded' Durkin for clearing up how he saw the first-half incident - but maintained he still should have awarded a penalty.

'He is being honest and I applaud him for that,' said Robson.

'It has gone against us, but you can't get everything.

'It was a big blow for us and looked as if Howard did catch Alan. It looked like a penalty.'

On the Manchester United goal which was chalked off for a debatable foul on Andy O'Brien, Robson reflected: 'You have got to be a bit closer to give a better opinion.

'Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. It looked like he [O'Brien] was being man-handled a bit. Maybe it's a 1-1 situation.'

Newcastle were beaten 5-3 at Old Trafford last season, and then routed 6-2 at home in April when they were still harbouring slim title ambitions.

Robson was happier with today's showing.

'I thought we played very well,' he said. 'In the first half we passed in sequence, got up the pitch and restricted them

'In the second half, when they got more competitive, we reduced them to long-range shots.

'We defended well. The whole back four did superbly. It has been a great week for us, with two victories and a draw, and no goals against.'

Robson added: 'I said before the game this was a test of our calibre and we had to put on a show after playing so poorly here last year and then getting beaten 6-2 home.

'To come here and not conceded a goal is a well-gotten point.'