Newcastle checks United's Premiership bid

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): In a week during which AC Milan won the Italian championship, Ajax confirmed its retention of the Dutch league title and a hat-trick from Paul Gasccoigne delivered Glasgow Rangers its eighth successive championship of Scotland, while Manchester United took a giant stride towards the English Premiership title.

At an overcast, eventually sodden Old Trafford in front of 53,926 supporters -- the largest crowd for a League match on British soil in seven years -- it trounced Nottingham Forest 5-0.

There was little hint of what was to come in the first half- hour as Forest, with men behind the ball in its most stubborn European formation, made it difficult for United to play its more expansive game.

As expected, manager Alex Ferguson dropped the dispirited 7 million poundsterling striker, Andy Cole, in favor of Paul Scholes, a product of United's youth team.

It was Scholes who eventually broke Forest's resistance in the 42nd minute. Giggs, allowed space around the penalty box, pulled his body and used the instep to flash the ball into the net for his 14th goal in 29 games.

With Cole watching forlornly from the substitutes bench, Scholes made further goals for Beckham and Giggs. The rout was completed as Beckham added his second before Cantona concluded the scoring two minutes from time.

But now only three points behind in the title race, Newcastle continues the chase tomorrow with a tricky away game at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.

This follows their edgy display on Monday night against Leeds United.

Luck

Newcastle rode its luck in the first 10 minutes as the home side hit first the post and then the crossbar.

The tension eased in the 16th minute as Keith Gillespie, starting a game for the first time since February, put Newcastle ahead. A cross from the right was flicked-on by the powerful Ferdinand for Gillespie to head home.

Newcastle continued to attack in the second-half with Lee, Ferdinand and Asprilla all missing easy chances that would have put the result beyond doubt.

Leeds, without five regular first team players including forwards Brolin and Yeboah, made few inroads into the Newcastle defense after its bright start.

Newcastle's substitution of Asprilla towards the end pointed to Keegan's thinking for tomorrow night's crucial away game at Nottingham Forest.

With Ginola available, Keegan may well revert to his early season line-up with Gillespie and Ginola on the flanks, Ferdinand in the middle and Beardsley playing behind the big striker.

The one-nil victory over Leeds keeps Newcastle three points behind Manchester United with a game in hand. Should the sides be level on points at the end of the season then goal difference will decide the issue.

With both sides having conceded 35 goals, Manchester United has the superior difference having scored 70 to Newcastle's 64. At the other end of the Premiership table, Bolton and Queens Park Rangers were both relegated. Indeed, in a curious weekend of results, only Bolton, of the bottom five, failed to win.

A solitary Matthew Le Tissier goal was enough to give Southampton the points and send the Lancashire club down after just one season in the Premiership.

Le Tissier's first act on the final whistle was to run to a group of Southampton fans and ask the scores of the other clubs in the drop zone.

His delight was tempered somewhat when told that both Coventry and Manchester City had also won away from home. The most surprising being the latter's one-nil victory at Aston Villa.

Prior to kickoff, Manchester City had won only once away from home together with four draws, whereas Villa had only been beaten twice at home all season.

A Paul McGrath own goal after 70 minutes was enough for City which has the enviable task of facing Liverpool at home next Sunday (May 5) in its quest to remain in the Premiership.

Absent

With key central defenders missing through injury, Coventry manager, Ron Atkinson, was forced to play center-forward, Dion Dublin, at center-half for its vital relegation battle away to Wimbledon.

The striker turned defender gave a commanding performance which, with two goals from Peter Ndlovu, sealed the win and left Coventry with a final game at home to Leeds United.

The unluckiest story of the weekend belonged to the Queens Park Rangers which, despite beating West Ham 3-0, was relegated due to all the other sides above them Winning.

There is little doubt that the sale of Les Ferdinand had much to do with QPR poor season. Ray Wilkins may now has difficulty in keeping his other prize asset, Frank Sinclair. The word is that Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are keen to have his services next season.

Finally, in a weekend that dripped emotion, Ian Rush played his last home game before his adoring Anfield fans as Liverpool beat Middlesbrough one-nil.

The crowd of 40,782 waited patiently their hero to come off the bench. He was given the final half-hour, but was unable to add to his tally of 345 goals in a 15-year career.

His decision to leave Liverpool is purely a footballing game one. The odd man out, Rush has been substitute for much of the season as Leeds United, Manchester City, Sheffield United and -- whisper it at Anfield -- Everton are all thought to be willing to give Rush the chance to show that, at 34, he can still terrorize Premiership defenses.

"He will be doing some damage somewhere," Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager said.

With hopes still playing in the Cup final, Anfield may not yet has witnessed its last Rush goal.

Fixtures

Monday, April 29: Premier league - Leeds v Newcastle (1900 gmt kickoff); Tuesday, April 30; Divison one - Barnsley v West Bromwich, Charlton v Tranmere, Luton v Port Vale, Oldham v Stoke, Reading v Wolverhampton.

Wednesday, May 1: Premier league - Arsenal v Liverpool (1845 gmt); Divison one - Ipswich v Huddersfield.

Thursday, May 2: Premier league - Leeds v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (both 1845 gmt).

Saturday, May 4: Division one - Barnsley v Grimsby, Sheffield United v Port Vale.

Sunday, May 5: Premier league (all 1500 gmt) - Arsenal v Bolton, Chelsea v Blackburn, Coventry v Leeds, Everton v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Liverpool, Middlesbrough v Manchester United, Newcastle v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Queen's Park Rangers, Southampton v Wimbledon, West Ham v Sheffield Wednesday; Divison one - Birmingham v Reading, Charlton v Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace v Norwich, Huddersfield Portsmouth, Ipswich v Millwall, Oldham v Luton, Stoke v Southend, Tranmere v Sunderland, Watford v Leicester, West Bromwich v Derby.