By Chris O'Brien
October 2 2006

Manchester United returned to the top of the Premiership table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, to the delight of the Red Army, netted a brace as Sir Alex Ferguson's side took advantage of their opponents' negative approach to the game.

Manchester United cruised to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle on Sunday in front of a record Premiership attendance.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netted both goals as Sir Alex Ferguson secured victory against a Magpies side who showed no ambition and were content to sit back and defend from the very first whistle.

After dominating the opening period, United finally took the lead after 41 minutes. Solskjaer was quick to react as Cristiano Ronaldo smashed his shot against the post, slotting the ball home passed a helpless Steve Harper from only yards out.

It was no less than the hosts deserved after completely controlling the first-half. Darren Fletcher had hit the woodwork early on as the Reds attacked in numbers, with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both going close as a relentless United returned to the top of the league in style.

The result was put beyond doubt just four minutes after the interval, with Solskjaer's fortunate strike securing his brace. The Norwegian international got in the way of a Vidic shot and the ball's course of direction changed leaving Harper stranded and the points seemingly secured.

United continued to dominate the game as a lively Ronaldo hit the woodwork twice more, with Harper making a string of impressive saves. We even had a perfectly legitimate penalty shout turned down - referee Mike Dean missing a clear handball from Barcodes defender Steve Taylor. The player's acting as he grabbed his stomach in apparent pain, indicating the ball had struck him there, would surely earn him a place at any major drama school.

The afternoon's only disappointments were a second-half injury to Gabriel Heinze and the performance of Wayne Rooney. Heinze was brought off after only 31 minutes, replaced by Patrice Evra, as he worryingly limped down the tunnel. As for 'El Blanco Pele', the striker showed a distinct lack of match fitness as a gruelling summer continues to take its toll - hopefully a confidence boosting goal is only around the corner.

The three points, mixed with Chelsea's draw at home to Villa, takes Fergie's men back to top of the Premiership table!

Full Time - Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
Attendance - 75,664

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze (Evra 31), Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Solskjaer.
Substitutes Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Saha, O'Shea.

Newcastle United: Harper, Carr, Ramage, Moore, Taylor, Milner (N'Zogbia 45), Butt (Martins 62), Emre (Pattison 69), Parker, Duff, Ameobi.
Substitutes Not Used: Krul, Luque.