The real United stand up

Scholes hat-trick hits Newcastle for six as Ferguson's wounded side send out a powerful message to Arsenal ahead of Highbury title showdown

When Philippe Albert was introduced to the crowd before kick-off at St James' Park yesterday it seemed like a good idea. It was, after all, the Belgian's chip over Peter Schmeichel that completed Newcastle's 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United on Tyneside in October 1996. If the plan was to give the visitors another psychological dig, four days after they were given the Champions' League runaround by Real Madrid, it all fell a bit flat. By half-time, when Albert re-appeared on the pitch to draw the winning ticket in the Geordie Jackpot, Newcastle were 4-1 down and on their way to a 6-2 hiding.

Manchester United might be stuttering on the European trophy trail, but on the home front they are flying. They were as sparkling at St James' yesterday as they were despairingly dull in the Bernabeu on Tuesday. The result they gained took them three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premiership, ahead of their trip to Highbury on Wednesday night. It also took their goal difference to within one score of the Gunners.

"Just one more goal and we would have been level with Arsenal," Sir Alex Ferguson said, lamenting a string of missed chances and the late concession of a goal to Shola Ameobi. "I would have taken this score before the game, though. It's a great confidence boost for Wednesday night. There's no doubt about that. It's the biggest game of the season now. We've got ourselves into the position we wanted to be, but to predict winning titles is a bit foolish."

Those who not so much predicted as proclaimed the demise of several of Ferguson's key players, in the wake of the 3-1 loss to Real Madrid, were left looking foolish yesterday. Articles in the morning press declaring that Kieron Dyer should be given Paul Scholes' place in the England team were handed around the visitors' dressing room before kick-off. Scholes went on to score a hat-trick. Dyer went missing in action.

After 14 wins in 16 Premiership matches at home this season, Newcastle suffered their heaviest defeat at St James' Park since a 6-1 loss to Chelsea in 1961 (Jimmy Greaves scored four, Bobby Tambling two). It brought an emphatic end to the lingering title ambitions held by Sir Bobby Robson and his side. "On Tuesday I saw Manchester United outsmarted in Madrid," the Newcastle manager said. "Today I've seen Manchester United outplay and outmanoeuvre us. It was just a mental abberation on our part. I don't know why. I don't know if United will win the title. If I knew that, I'd put £1m on them at 7-4 or whatever it is. All I know is Arsenal and Manchester United are ahead of everyone else. They're two well-matched teams. It'll be a marvellous game on Wednesday night."

At the other end of the table, Sunderland's season came to a predictable conclusion as they became the first side to be relegated from the Premiership. Their 2-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Birmingham City at St Andrews was their 10th straight defeat in the League.

Two Nationwide League sides looking to replace the Black Cats in the top flight failed to secure the victories they required for automatic promotion, Portsmouth losing 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday at Fratton Park while Leicester City could only muster a draw at Rotherham.