DEMBA Ba scored the first and contributed to the second as Newcastle enjoyed a convincing 3-0 Premier League win over a listless Manchester United side at St James’ Park. Ba hooked home a stunning volley on 33 minutes to set the ball rolling before Yohan Cabaye clattered a free-kick in off the underside of the bar on 47 minutes after Phil Jones had been booked for felling Ba 25 yards from goal.
Newcastle were well on their way to their first win over United since 2001, but there remained time for Jones to score an own goal in stoppage time as a mix-up saw the defender nod past his goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard as he dashed from his line.
Alan Pardew’s Newcastle remain seventh in the table on 33 points – a point behind Liverpool in sixth – but they were not the only winners on the night.
United remain three points adrift of leaders Manchester City in what has been a forgettable few days for them coming after a 3-2 home defeat to struggling Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve.
It is Sir Alex Ferguson’s side first away defeat of the season, and only the third time they have lost back-to-back matches in the league over the past seven seasons.
They can have few complaints with Ba netting his 15th goal of the season before he departs to play for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations later this month. He was worthy of his standing ovation after being replaced by Gabriel Obertan with a couple of minutes remaining.
Wayne Rooney was brought back for United after apparently being dropped for the Blackburn match by Ferguson for struggling to impress in training last week.
He saw Danny Simpson somehow hook a volley off the line on 57 minutes before being replaced by Anderson with 15 minutes left in what was an evening of little joy for the visiting side despite the best efforts of the evergreen Ryan Giggs in midfield.
United will wonder how the night could have unravelled if Dimitar Berbatov’s header had crept in rather than hit a post and trickling wide having deflected off Davide Santon.
Newcastle struck the opener when Shola Ameobi rose to flick on goalkeeper Tim Krul’s long ball down the park.
There appeared no imminent danger, but Ba somehow outfoxed Rio Ferdinand in the area to send a volley spinning over the despairing dive of the recalled Lindegaard, who had been given the nod by Ferguson ahead of David de Gea after the Spanish keeper had blundered against Blackburn.
The second Newcastle goal was a thing off real beauty as Cabaye’s effort beat Lindegaard all ends up before winding up in the net via the bar. It was little wonder the home fans gave Pardew a roar of approval only a year after they had questioned his suitability for the main job at the club.
United hardly get time to take their mind off the business in hand in the Premier League despite confronting the FA Cup duty this weekend. They face the short trip to take on their neighbours and main foes Manchester City in the third round on Sunday.