Barclays Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 – 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED

A humdinger of a Boxing Day clash at Old Trafford saw Newcastle United continue their dreadful run at the home of Manchester United. The times Newcastle took the lead as they made the league leaders look decidedly average, but three times United responded, before Javier Hernandez scored in the 90th minute to secure a three points that Sir Alex Ferguson's side barely deserved. The game had it all - excellent goals, big challenges and controversial decisions, but tensions were running high throughout. A late challenge by Antonio Valencia looks to have caused Vurnon Anita a serious injury and should have resulted in a second yellow for the United player, sparking fury in the Newcastle dugout, but it was the home bench that were enraged for much of the afternoon. Jonny Evans' own-goal in the first half was given despite the linesman flagging for offside against Papiss Cisse (with the striker adjudged not to have been active) and United were furious after seeing the replays, with Ferguson berating the linesman throughout the second half. Despite the protestations, the decision to allow the goal to stand appeared to be correct, and shouldn't overshadow what was a terrific game of football. A seven-goal Boxing Day thriller at Old Trafford ended Manchester United 4, Newcastle United 3!

FULL-TIME

The final whistle goes to end a festive treat at Old Trafford.

HUGE AFTERNOON AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE

Manchester United look to have escaped with three points today, and with Manchester City losing at Sunderland it creates a big gap at the top of the table heading into the second half of the season.

BAD INJURY FOR ANITA

Vurnon Anita is caught badly on the ankle by Antonio Valencia and is taken from the field on a stretcher after lengthy treatment. That should have been a second yellow card for the United man, but nothing was given, and the officials are given another earful - this time from the Newcastle bench.

LATE CHANGE FOR UNITED

Sir Alex immediately looks to tighten the game up, and Darren Fletcher comes on in place of Javier Hernandez.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

Michael Carrick has been excellent creatively in this second half, and his perfect clipped cross over the top picked out the run of Javier Hernandez. The striker has not been at his best today, but on this occasion his finish gave Tim Krul no chance. 4-3!

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Javier Hernandez scores for Manchester United to make it 4-3 and surely secure all three points for the league leaders.

FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON

There will be four minutes of added time for one of these teams to grab a winner.

VAN PERSIE CAN'T HIT THE TARGET

Robin van Persie looks set to win it late on for Manchester United, but his close-range effort grazes the angle of the bar and upright as it flies over Tim Krul's goal.

COMFORTABLE SAVE FOR DE GEA

Shola Ameobi is unable to get any real power on his header from distance and David de Gea makes an easy save to keep the score at 3-3.

STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER!

Ryan Giggs twists and turns into space on the left of the area and dinks a cross onto the head of. The striker should have scored, but his header is straight at Tim Krul, who reacts well to hold on and not give United any chance of a follow-up effort.

OFF THE POST!

Sammy Ameobi goes on his own and takes a shot on with no players up in support. His effort strikes the inside of the post and bounces back into the grateful arms of David de Gea! This game is end-to-end as both teams go all out for three points.

SIR ALEX TAKING IT TOO FAR

Sir Alex Ferguson is continuously berating the linesman who was involved in the own goal decision in the first half. It's not pretty and you'd expect the United manager to get hit by the FA for this - it's hugely aggressive and not what you like to see from any manager, even one as big in the game as the Scot.

OFF THE POST!

Antonio Valencia's cross picks out Javier Hernandez, but the striker's header hits the outside of the post. The defending in this match has been shambolic at times, but it's making for a superb spectacle!

VAN PERSIE SHOOTS WIDE

A delightful clipped pass by Michael Carrick picks out Robin van Persie, but the Dutchman's volley slides fractionally wide of the far post.

HUGE PENALTY CLAIMS!

Javier Hernandez opts to go for goal rather than slide in Robin van Persie. It was the wrong option, but Hernandez almost gets lucky as the ball strikes the arm of Fabricio Coloccini. Old Trafford rages as no penalty is given, but replays show that the incident was outside of the box in any case.

AMEOBI ON FOR NEWCASTLE

Demba Ba's excellent afternoon has come to an end, with the exhausted striker replaced by Shola Ameobi.

LET-OFF FOR UNITED

David de Gea breathes a sigh of relief as a Sylvain Marveaux shot is fired straight at him. Either side and that would have been a seventh goal in this spectacular game of football!

WHAT A CHANCE!

Manchester United should be ahead! Javier Hernandez is played clean through in the box, but he opts to go around the keeper rather than dink the shot first-time, and Newcastle get enough defenders back to prevent him from getting the shot away.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

Robin van Persie was denied by an excellent Tim Krul save, but Newcastle failed to clear the loose ball, and the Dutchman was on hand to send a second effort into the bottom corner.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Robin van Persie equalises for Manchester United as the goals continue to flow at Old Trafford. 3-3!

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

Manchester United's defence was all over the place, but credit to Newcastle for an excellent goal. A flicked-on throw played in Gabriel Obertan down the left, and the former United man did well to pull the ball back into the middle of the area. Papiss Cisse had found space in the box and got the run on the centre-backs, but his finish was superb, leaving David de Gea with no chance.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Papiss Cisse scores an absolute belter for Newcastle to make it 3-2! What a game!

CHANGE FOR NEWCASTLE

Gael Bigirimana goes off and on comes Gabriel Obertan for Newcastle. That may mean a slight change of shape for Newcastle, but the visitors needed fresh legs, and Obertan will be keen to put in a good showing against his former club.

YELLOW CARD

The cards are out again, and this time Pappiss Cisse goes into the book for a sloppy challenge on Patrice Evra when tracking back.

BIG CHANCE FOR BA!

A free-kick delivery causes panic in the United penalty area, and Demba Ba very nearly latches on to a loose ball right in front of goal. The striker had little time to react and was unable to control the ball, but that was a huge scare for the league leaders.

UNITED SNIFF THE CHANCE OF A WIN

The roar after Patrice Evra's equaliser was a familiar noise at Old Trafford, and it is usually followed by late goals to rescue a win from a poor performance. Newcastle have been excellent today, but it's 2-2 and the visitors are visibly tiring.

YELLOW CARD

Danny Simpson catches Jonny Evans and picks up a booking.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

Newcastle should have cleared a sloppy free-kick into their area, but failed to do so, and gave Evra far too much space to get a shot away. Tim Krul will watch the goal back and feel that he should have done better, but the bodies in-front of him gave him no time to react.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Patrice Evra equalises for Manchester United. 2-2!

NO PENALTY!

Javier Hernandez is eased off the ball by Fabricio Coloccini, but there was nothing in the challenge - despite furious claims around Old Trafford.

YELLOW CARD

Antonio Valencia goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Danny Simpson. The slippery conditions are making it very hard for players to control challenges when they go to ground.

VAN PERSIE SHOOTS WIDE

Ryan Giggs does well to pull the ball back, but Robin van Persie can't get control of the shot and bundles it wide.

UGLY SCENES ON THE TOUCHLINE

Sir Alex Ferguson clearly saw a replay of the own-goal at half-time and tv cameras pick him up confronting the linesman angrily. Whether it should have been a goal or not remains debatable, although it was probably the right decision given the letter of the law. You get the feeling that we haven't heard the end of this.

SECOND HALF

We're back underway in the second half at Old Trafford.

HALF-TIME

The whistle goes at Old Trafford to end a half that has gone badly wrong for the league leaders. Newcastle United bagged an early goal when James Perch took advantage of David de Gea's poor handling of a speculative Demba Ba effort, and Jonny Evans then took centre-stage with goals at both ends. The defender's own-goal will be a major talking point if the Magpies pick up three points this afternoon, but the visitors are well worth their lead at the break. At half-time it's Manchester United 1, Newcastle United 2.

UNITED WELL OFF THE PACE

It's hard to grasp how poor Manchester United have been in this first half. The look on Sir Alex Ferguson's face suggests that the players may be ducking for cover at half-time, and expect changes after the break. Newcastle have opted to concede control of midfield in favour of defending deep but counter-attacking in numbers - a tactic that has proved too much for the home defence to handle.

VAN PERSIE SHOOTS WIDE

Robin van Persie goes for goal from the free-kick, but he doesn't get his effort right and it flies harmlessly wide.

POOR CHALLENGE BY WILLIAMSON

Newcastle gift Ryan Giggs the ball in midfield, and only a rash challenge by Mike Williamson halts the veteran. The referee has little option but to brandish a yellow card.

OFF THE BAR!

Sylvain Marveaux takes the free-kick, and his curling effort leaves David de Gea with no chance, only for it to strike the crossbar. What an effort!

ANOTHER BOOKING

Javier Hernandez tracks back to help out his defence, but clips the heels of Sylvain Marveaux to give away a free-kick in a very dangerous area.

YELLOW CARD

Jonny Evans is in the thick of the action, and he adds a booking to his goal at each end.

CONCERN AROUND OLD TRAFFORD

The home crowd are getting frustrated by the lack of end-product on show from their side. The game is going Newcastle's way, with the Magpies now able to play entirely on the counter-attack and find space for their Senegalese strikers.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

If United lose this game then expect this goal to be the headline incident. A cross into the box was turned into his own net by Jonny Evans, who buried his head into the turf in disappointment. United looked to have been given a reprieve by an offside decision that caused complete outrage on the Newcastle bench, but after a discussion between the officials the goal was allowed to stand. The issue appeared to be that Papiss Cisse was in an offside position, but as he didn't touch the ball was considered inactive. Opinion will be split on whether the goal should have be given or not, but right now it means that Newcastle are back in the lead.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Jonny Evans scores again… but this time it's into his own net! 2-1 Newcastle!

FRUSTRATION FOR CISSE

Newcastle United catch the home side out from the restart, but Demba Ba goes for goal rather than squaring to an unmarked Papiss Cisse.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

A poor free-kick wasn't cleared by Newcastle United, and Javier Hernandez was quickest to react. Tim Krul made the save, but Jonny Evans was on hand to tuck the rebound home from close range. 1-1.

GOOOAAALLL!!!

Jonny Evans equalises for Manchester United. 1-1!

CISSE IS DOWN

Pappiss Cisse is on the floor after an off-the-ball clash on the counter-attack. There was little in the challenge, so United play on… albeit after some brief confusion.

ENCOURAGING FOR NEWCASTLE

The home side have dominated possession, but there's been very little in the way of goal threat, and Alan Pardew will be delighted with how this game has started.

BA DENIED!

Demba Ba gets a shot away inside the area, but Rio Ferdinand makes the crucial block. A looping follow-up effort is very nearly carried over his own line by David de Gea, but the goalkeeper just does enough.

PLENTY OF SPACE IN MIDFIELD

With Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs both starting for United it's little surprise that there's a lack of physical intensity in midfield. Newcastle aren't taking full advantage, but there's lots of space on the break for their Senegalese attackers to drop into.

WASTED OPPORTUNITY

Manchester United break at pace, and excellent movement puts Javier Hernandez away down the right. The striker picks his head up and has plenty of options in the box, but his cross is over-hit.

CISSE OUT ON THE WING

Pappiss Cisse has started the game on the right of a four-man midfield, but he's not comfortable there and is extremely fortunate to escape without a booking for a clumsy challenge on Patrice Evra.

MORE ON THAT GOAL!

Manchester United will not enjoy watching that goal back! Sloppy play in midfield gifted Demba Ba possession, and the striker was given time and space to get a long-range shot in. David de Gea should have been able to deal with the effort comfortably, but instead parried it straight to the only Newcastle player following up, and James Perch simply tucked it away. 1-0!

GOOOAAALLL!!!

James Perch scores for Newcastle United to give them a shock lead at Old Trafford!

EARLY CHANCE FOR BA

Demba Ba has an early sniff as United don't deal with a free-kick pumped into their area. However, the big striker fails to make a decent connection with his volley.

KICK-OFF

The game is underway at Old Trafford, with Manchester United in their usual red shirts and white shorts, and Newcastle in a fetching yellow number.

TEAM NEWS

Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs both start for Manchester United, with Wayne Rooney not even in the squad. Nemanja Vidic starts on the bench, while Javier Hernandez starts up-front with Robin van Persie. Injury-hit Newcastle are struggling for numbers in midfield, but Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba both make the team.

DISAPPOINTING SEASON SO FAR

Newcastle have slumped dramatically from last season, although a win against QPR on Saturday took them five points clear of the drop zone to ease the pressure of relegation going into the New Year. Centre-forward Pappiss Cisse have failed to fire in his second season at the club, but unsettled Demba Ba has weighed in with some big goals.

POOR RECORD AT UNITED

Newcastle United's run without a win at Old Trafford is one of the most remarkable records in English football. The Magpies haven't picked up three points at the ground in 30 visits since 1972, drawing just eight of those matches.

MAN UTD V NEWCASTLE

Manchester United will be looking for another Boxing Day win this afternoon, to strengthen their lead at the top of the Premier League at the half-way stage of the season. United haven't lost a Boxing Day match at Old Trafford since 1978, and have won their last eight matches on the 26th December with an aggregate scoreline of 23-3. Coming off the back of dropped points against Swansea, Sir Alex Ferguson's side will expect to win this game relatively comfortably, but Newcastle do have the firepower to get a result if everything clicks.