Manchester United

3.23

• 
  18

  5

  3.00

  David de Gea

  The young Spaniard looked calm from the start and met a number of perilous looking crosses well. Got down rapidly for Cabaye's low first-half effort and looked sharp off his line throughout.

• 
  6

  21

  2.50

  Patrice Evra

  Struggled against Benfica’s Gaitan in midweek and had a tough test once again with former team-mate and compatriot Obertan. Misjudged a diving header on the 20th minute that nearly let the winger in. Not an assured performance from the 30-year-old.

• 
  13

  10

  3.00

  Rio Ferdinand

  Had an early mix-up with Vidic regarding a long ball over the top but battled well against Demba Ba and looked cool under pressure for the most part. Looked very dangerous when going forward and attacking headers and was unfortunate to give away the equalising penalty.

• 
  15

  11

  3.00

  Nemanja Vidic

  A dominant defensive performance from the United captain. Met the ball in the air whenever it came his way to clear the home side's lines. Kept United's line strong and was typically vocal for the entire match.

• 
  12

  15

  3.50

  Fabio Da Silva

  Preferred to Chris Smalling at right-back and got forward at will. Dealt very well with the often-tricky Gutierrez, and nearly helped give United the lead with an angled cross that Giggs would've converted were it not for Krul's acrobatics. Nearly doubled United's lead shortly after the opener but blazed over.

• 
  21

  7

  3.50

  Ryan Giggs

  Was presented the Golden Foot award prior to kick-off and proved he's still worth his weight in the stuff. Nearly gave the home side the lead on the half hour mark with a delightful flick but saw it saved superbly by Krul.

• 
  28

  7

  3.50

  Michael Carrick

  Kept the champions ticking over with minimal fuss against his hometown club. Maintained possession and slowed the pace down when Newcastle looked threatening on the counter-attack. A classy, understated showing.

• 
  16

  9

  3.50

  Nani

  Looked dangerous from the opening minute as he went on a powerful run into the visitors' area and worked incredibly hard for his side, making a decisive tackle on Gutierrez with the Argentine threatening to break into space.

• 
  10

  19

  3.00

  Ashley Young

  Looked dangerous early on against Danny Simpson and switched wings with Nani throughout to try and test the Magpies' full-backs. Looked more comfortable on the left cutting in.

• 
  16

  13

  3.50

  Wayne Rooney

  Returned to the United side after a number of recent absences and didn't take long to settle back in, floating effortlessly through the Newcastle midfield before playing in Hernandez. Was behind most of United's most threatening attacks and linked-up with the midfield brilliantly. Should've scored with an easy chance on the 53rd minute however.

• 
  19

  17

  3.50

  Chicharito

  Had the first real chance of note and with a 5th minute snapshot but hit it straight at Krul. Got plenty of shots away to test Krul but lost his footing with the Red Devils in a dangerous position on the stroke of half time. Atoned early in the second half however, being typically in the right place at the right time to deflect the ball home from no distance. Thought he'd won it late on but was frustrated by a Simpson block on the line.

Substitutions

• 
  10

  7

  0.00

  Federico Macheda

  Came on shortly before injury time for the disappointing Evra.

Newcastle

3.08

• 
  32

  1

  4.00

  Tim Krul Top of the Match

  The Dutchman was superb in large part against Manchester City last week and exuded confidence early on. Pulled off an absolutely world-class stretching save to deny Giggs the opener on the half hour mark.

• 
  7

  4

  3.00

  Fabricio Coloccini

  Pulled off a perfectly executed block tackle to frustrate Wayne Rooney and was solid for the entire 90 minutes, keeping Newcastle compact at the back.

• 
  8

  5

  3.00

  Danny Simpson

  Returned to his former club looking like a player with a point to prove with a couple of early blocks but was left isolated by fellow former Red Devil Obertan as the Frenchman played an advanced role. Saved his side late on with a superb block on the line.

• 
  3

  5

  3.00

  Ryan Taylor

  Had a nightmare at the Etihad Stadium last weekend and he could've atoned with a goal on the 20th minute but scuffed his effort from point-black range into the arms of De Gea. Defended well however, heading behind a wicked Nani cross.

• 
  4

  4

  2.50

  Steven Taylor

  The 25-year-old looked a little leggy at the heart of the Newcastle defence and struggled to keep pace with the energetic Hernandez. Gave away the free-kick that led to United's opener but was unfortunate to see the ball deflect off him into Hernandez as the hosts took the lead.

• 
  5

  6

  3.00

  Yohan Cabaye

  The Frenchman looked classy in the middle of the park and worked incredibly hard to help track Rooney. Didn't have as much of an influence as he has done in the past, with Ben Arfa possibly restricting his space in the advanced midfield position.

• 
  1

  5

  3.00

  Danny Guthrie

  A typically industrious display from the former Liverpool youngster, as he looked to nullify Giggs in the middle of United's midfield. Worked hard but added little as the visitors chased the game.

• 
  7

  6

  3.50

  Hatem Ben Arfa

  Was superb in defeat against Manchester City last week and repeated the feat, moving the ball on from midfield with a number of darting runs. Played a sumptuous chip through to Ba on the 12th minute. A great showing saw him win his side a penalty, but picked up a needless yellow card for a shove on Rooney.

• 
  4

  7

  2.50

  Jonas Gutierrez

  The Argentine can be a real threat down the left flank but was struggled to gain a foothold in the game at the Theatre of Dreams. Wasted a 9th minute cross and was sent off for two very nasty challenges on Carrick and Nani respectively.

• 
  8

  5

  3.50

  Demba Ba

  Missed a difficult chance on the 12th minute with a volley that came from over his shoulder but the Senegalese moved superbly and chased down every lost cause to stretch Vidic and Ferdinand. Took his penalty well, never looking fazed by the onlooking Stretford End.

• 
  7

  2

  3.50

  Gabriel Obertan

  The former Red Devil admitted that he wanted to impress on his return to the Theatre of Dreams and kept Patrice Evra throughout. Was unfortunate to see Ba fail to meet his superb dinked cross shortly before the 20-minute mark but moved well and kept Evra on his toes.

Substitutions

• 
  3

  4

  0.00

  James Perch

  Came on for the last 15 minutes to help the visitors tighten up at the back.

• 
  3

  4

  0.00

  Peter Lovenkrands

  Made a brief cameo off the bench but had little impact.

• 
  3

  4

  2.50

  Sammy Ameobi

  Replaced Obertan but looked off the pace down the right flank, affording Young and Evra far too much space.