Ruud dedicates goal to Robson

Ruud van Nistelrooy completed Newcastle’s misery with an injury-time strike and then dedicated it to their former manager Sir Bobby Robson.

The Dutchman, who worked with Robson during his formative years at PSV Eindhoven, revealed after yesterday’s 2-0 win at St James’ Park that he had bumped into the 72-year-old at his team’s Tyneside hotel before the game.

It was on August Bank Holiday Monday last year that the former England boss’ spell at St James’ Park came to a bitterly disappointing end, and on hearing that, Van Nistelrooy promised him a goal.

“I spoke to Sir Bobby Robson in our hotel before the game and I promised him that goal,” he said. “It was good to see him and he told me that it was exactly a year ago he got the sack at St James Park, so that goal was for him.”

Whether or not that will have come as any consolation to lifelong Newcastle fan Robson is debatable as the side he guided into the upper reaches of the Barclays Premiership table during a thrilling five-year reign slumped to 19th place in the league table, the position in which they were wallowing when he took charge of his first domestic game in September, 1999.

But if there was gloom on Tyneside despite a spirited display by Graeme Souness’ men before defender Jean-Alain Boumsong gifted first Wayne Rooney and then Van Nistelrooy second-half goals, there were nothing but smiles on the faces of the United party and they set off for home.

Five competitive games so far this season have brought as many wins, and with no goals conceded, Sir Alex Ferguson’s assertion that they are once again serious title contenders is difficult to dismiss.

United did not actually play to their full potential before the break as Newcastle made life difficult for them, but Rooney’s energy and the pace of Cristiano Ronaldo eventually told and when the chances came, Rooney and Van Nistelrooy never wavered.

Although it was finishing power that ultimately won the day, the Dutch international admitted it was the solid foundation behind him that set the tone.

“We are confident in the sense that we have gone five games now this season and we haven’t conceded any goals,” he said. “It is very solid. From the midfield to the defence back to Edwin (van der Sar), it is all very tight.

“That gives the strikers a great feeling to go for a goal until late on as well.

“It is another win and a very positive result. Football-wise, we didn’t do enough because we gave Newcastle the opportunities to get around us and put us under pressure.

“We upped the tempo in the second half. We spoke about it at half time. We didn’t play enough football in the first half to play out of their pressure. Second half we did better.”

Summer signing Van der Sar has already made an impact at Old Trafford after being recruited by Ferguson to prevent the leakage of goals which cost his side last season.

“This is what the manager wants from us,” he said. “Last year, United lost and drew too many games and lost too many games in the first 10 matches of the season.

“It is a good start because we are winning we want to maintain this. It is always nice to have clean sheets, but the main thing is we are winning. That is the main focus.

“We didn’t want to fall too far behind, so that is why we are very focused. The highlights, of course, go to the strikers, but I think the defenders and midfield are playing a decent game. The main thing for me is the defence to play well.”

Van der Sar insisted that there is more to United than just Rooney, but admitted he has been hugely impressed with the teenager.

“The team is not only Wayne Rooney,” he said. “But he played well by scoring the first and making the second. Rooney is world class and there is still a lot to come from him.”

REF’S REPORT – Howard Webb had a difficult afternoon at St James’ as he attempted to keep a lid on Alan Shearer’s physical battle with Mickael Silvestre and contend with the antics of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze. However, Stephen Carr was fortunate to escape after appearing to haul down Ronaldo as he raced in on goal and Van Nistelrooy might have earned a penalty rather than a booking after going down under Shay Given’s challenge.

FUSSY FACTOR – Webb was unable to allow the game to flow as he repeatedly blew for niggling fouls in a highly competitive game.