Given happy with point proved

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given insisted his side thoroughly deserved a point after they claimed a 1-1 draw with defending Premier League champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Magpies opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Obafemi Martins when the Red Devils got their marking all wrong from James Milner’s corner and the Nigerian rose unchallenged to power a header goalwards which Paul Scholes could not keep out on the line.

Newcastle’s lead lasted only two minutes though as Patrice Evra released Ryan Giggs.

Darren Fletcher got to the near post first as Giggs fired in a low cross and the Scot gave Given little chance as he steered a first-time effort into the net.

“We have to take a lot of credit for the result here today,” Given told Sky Sports 1.

“It’s a huge result for us and by going to the champions – we knew it was going to be tough – we’ll take a lot of positives.

“There was a lot of stick from some of the media saying we were going to struggle this season, so we’re happy.

“We have signed a couple of good players in the summer and I think some of them showed their class today, so we must take a lot of credit.”

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson described the result as "creditable" for his side, in light of the absences through injury.

He told Sky Sports 1: “We played well in the first half, and their goalkeeper made several good saves to keep them in the match.

“Our attacking play in the first half was good. But as soon as we lost Ryan Giggs to a hamstring injury and Michael Carrick with an ankle, which is swollen up badly – he’ll be out for two to three weeks – we lost a bit of our experience in midfield.

“We ended up having to push Patrice Evra out to the left side of midfield - and he is obviously not our best attacking player, being a left-back.

“Newcastle were good on the counter-attack – and in Martins and (Damien) Duff they have players with quality in these positions; if you don’t stop them they can be dangerous.

“We had possession of the ball but didn’t make it count at times – but in light of the people we had missing, it was a creditable result for us.”

Despite the absence of attacking potency, Ferguson refused to comment on the speculation that Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov is close to a move to Old Trafford.

He added: “Carlos Tevez will be back for Portsmouth, and Wayne Rooney is getting his fitness back.

“I am not discussing anyone else – I think we have a good squad, and that will be my strike force.”

Ferguson's opposite number Kevin Keegan was delighted with his team's ``deserved'' draw.

“Whatever side Manchester United put out, they’re a great side,” said the Magpies boss.

“You can’t carry anybody here. But if you put in a good performance and have a good attitude you just might get a result. That is what happened, and I thought we deserved the point.”