Van Nistelrooy apologies to Sir Bobby for being so Ruud

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY plundered the second Old Trafford hat-trick of his career on Saturday then apologised to Sir Bobby Robson for the misery it inflicted.

The Dutch international was a raw 21-year-old when the current Newcastle manager signed him for PSV Eindhoven.

Robson was long gone by the time van Nistelrooy completed his £18.5million dream move to United, but the memories and influence still linger.

And that is why there was a slight tinge of regret about the striker's match-winning efforts, even though it brought up his half century for the club.

"I like Bobby so much I wish I didn't have to score against him," said the 25-year-old.

"He has been really influential in my career. He passed on his passion, his desire for football and his vision for the game. Robson retained his passion as he left Old Trafford but much of it was anger, directed at his own players.

Just five days before a crucial Champions League encounter with Inter Milan at St James' Park, Robson was barely able to believe his side's defensive disaster, twice conceding goals within three minutes of scoring themselves and allowing van Nistelrooy so much room he was able to complete his hat-trick without venturing out of the six-yard area.

"We only have ourselves to blame," admitted Magpies' midfielder Gary Speed.

"To go to a place like Old Trafford, score three times and not get anything is not good enough.

"We will have to improve quickly otherwise we will get nothing from Inter Milan." They key to success was their trademark quick passing game, the return of which coincided with Paul Scholes' restoration to a central midfield berth.

The England international opened a frenzied burst of scoring by blasting home an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cut-back midway through the first-half but the real action did not begin until Olivier Bernard looped home a freakish leveller 10 minutes before the interval.

Bernard's intended cross caught fellow Frenchman Fabien Barthez napping and, David Seaman-style, the ball disappeared over his head and in off a post.

United responded with a van Nistelrooy double, Mikael Silvestre's far post cross setting up the first, Diego Forlan's mishit shot the second.

The goals continued to flow just as rapidly after the break with Shearer driving in his 100th Premiership goal for the Magpies from Speed's short free-kick, only for van Nistelrooy to complete his hat-trick almost instantly, Forlan again providing the assist.

Robson amusingly accused an assistant-referee of 'blatant blindness' for his failure to spot a Solskjaer push on Aaron Hughes in the build-up to the Norwegian notching the fifth.

And though the visitors had plenty of pressure after Craig Bellamy had pulled one back, they were unable to force United into a panicky final few minutes.

Defeats for Liverpool and Arsenal, United's next Premiership opponents, put an added gloss on the victory, which is followed by tomorrow's trip to Champions League surprise package FC Basle.