EPL - Manchester United v. Newcastle
10:00 AM ET
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Happy Holidays footy fans! I'm David Esposto and welcome to theScore Live Blog's continuing coverage of the English Premier League. With 9 games on the schedule this Boxing Day, Manchester United hosts Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are four points clear at the top. Will they continue to extend their lead, or will Newcastle play spoiler? Tune into theScore Live Blog to find out! -
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Here are your starting XIs, formations and available substitutions for both sides:
Man Utd (4-4-2): De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, van Persie, Hernandez. Subs: Lindegaard, Vidic, Cleverley, Fletcher, Buttner, Wootton, Tunnicliffe.
Newcastle (4-3-3): Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Perch, Bigirimana, Cissé, Ba, Marveaux. Subs: Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson, Tavernier, Campbell. -
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4 mins: GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0! Perch! What a mistake from De Gea! The initial shot comes in from Ba and De Gea makes the save, but plays it right into the path of an onrushing James Perch, who pounces on the rebound and puts it into the Manchester United goal. What a start for the visitors!
Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 1 -
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13 mins: Man United do nothing with it, as Newcastle have possession now. The attack breaks down, as United expand the play and use the width of the pitch. Scholes plays a ball to the right post that an outstretched Valencia gets a foot on, but he can't find Hernandez or RVP in the area.
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16 mins: Newcastle United free kick following a Scholes tackle inside the visiting half. Krul to take the kick, as he drifts it into the area. The ball is knocked down as Ba hammers a shot, but its blocked. It then comes out of the area to the left and crossed into the area for Coloccini, his glancing header nearly catches De Gea off his line, but the Spaniard catches and holds.
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21 mins: Giggs has a couple of chances to cross the ball into the area from the left. His first cross is delivered right into the penalty spot, but cleared away, as RVP can't get a touch on it. He gets the ball back again on the edge of the area, but its headed away again.
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25 mins: GOAL! United equalize 1-1! Evans! Wasn't the best delivery from RVP, but the free kick is flicked on by Giggs. It's then collected by Chicarito, who gets the initial shot off thats saved by Krul, but Evans is there to put the ball into the empty net, as he gets there before Simpson. All level at Old Trafford now.
Manchester United 1 Newcastle 1 -
30 mins: GOAL! Newcastle 2-1! My, that was bizarre. The goal was not given at first, as the fourth official had ruled that Ba interfered with the play, but after a brief discussion, referee Mike Dean points to the centre circle and gives the visitors the goal, as he overrules the linesman original call.
Anita found Simpson in space on the right, he fires and Ba looked to be offside, but the shot took a deflection off Evans, who was charged with the own goal.
Man United 1 Newcastle 2 -
32 mins: United with a free kick in the Newcastle half. RVP drifts it into the far post as he aims for Evans, but Krul punches rather unconvincingly.
Another mistake at the back for United puts them a goal down again. First De Gea, then Evans, as United look to equalize again. -
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39 mins: Manchester United caution - yellow card - Chicarito for a bad foul on Marveaux.
The visitors line-up to take the free kick, Marveaux with a left footed effort that beats the wall and has De Gea staring into space. The shot though, hits the crossbar! My word, what a shot that was! United making far too many defensive mistakes this half so far. -
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43 mins: Newcastle caution - yellow card - Williamson for bringing down Giggs.
United free kick in the Newcastle final third. RVP delivers, but its poor. Way wide, doesn't wrap his foot around the ball. United players waiting for the rebound, but there isn't one. -
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Half-time at Old Trafford, as United are booed off the pitch by the home fans. Exciting first half, filled with a bit of everything - goals, questionable calls from the referee and defensive errors from United, as Newcastle take a 2-1 lead into the locker room after 45 minutes.
Thoughts on the first half? -
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There is still much talk about the second Newcastle goal. The hubbub surrounds Ba's position on the goal, as it is thought that he was interfering with Evans, and that he was offside. Dean though rightfully gives the ball after Ba did not touch the ball.
The decision of course is subjective. I think the referee got it right, but its all open to interpretation, as are all 'talking points' in sports - be it football or other. -
