Slick United topple toothless Toon

The veteran midfielder pulled the strings in a dominant United performance, with Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and substitute Ryan Giggs all on target at Old Trafford. It was the visitors who made the brighter start, however, and they should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when a corner from the left found an unmarked Andy Carroll, but the Toon hitman inexplicably headed well wide from six yards. And they were made to pay for that miss when United took the lead in the 33rd minute - Scholes sliding a precision pass through to Berbatov and the Bulgarian hitman fired across Steve Harper and into the far corner. United doubled their advantage three minutes before the break when Patrice Evra ghosted into the area and although his cross was miscontrolled by Wayne Rooney, Fletcher was there to sweep home from six yards. Berbatov squandered a couple of decent opportunities to extend United's advantage as they completely dominated the second period while Carroll, who was Newcastle's best player on the night, powered another header wide. But Sir Alex Ferguson's men grabbed a well-deserved third with five minutes to go when the outstanding Scholes picked out Giggs at the far post and the veteran midfielder volleyed into the far corner.