Manchester United suffer another home defeat

 Champions Manchester United crashed to a second home defeat in four days and out of serious contention for this season's English Premier League title after losing 1-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

A well-taken 61st minute goal, stroked in from 10 metres by French midfielder Yohan Cabaye, dealt United their first home defeat to Newcastle in 41 years and delighted visiting boss Alan Pardew.

Pardew, who has guided Newcastle to five wins in six league games on a climb to sixth place, plotted a perfect plan for his team who subdued their hosts, controlled possession and seized victory with elan.

"It's one of the top moments for me in my time here - it's been 41 years we've been waiting," he told BT Sport television. "It was a magnificent performance. I know we won't get the headlines because of United and poor old David Moyes.

"But we deserve them because our players were magnificent. I asked them to play differently today, to keep the ball, and we did that. We made it difficult for them and it's a great day for us."

The home side, without suspended England striker Wayne Rooney and showing seven changes from the one defeated by Everton by the same score on Wednesday, were easily subdued by well-organised visitors who triumphed with few alarms.

It was the first time they had suffered back-to-back home defeats since May 2002 - and Moyes' third defeat as manager in eight home games this season - and the result left United ninth, 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Everton on Sunday.

The first victory for The Magpies at Old Trafford since February 1972 lifted them above Tottenham Hotspur into contention for a top six finish, four points above the champions.

"It's tough for David Moyes," added Pardew. "I thought events worked against him with no Rooney today. He's a great person and a great manager and the best thing this great club can do is to stick by him.

"They've done that before and he'll come out smiling."

United threatened briefly at the end of the first half and early in the second, when a Patrice Evra header hit a post, before French midfielder Moussa Sissoko's angled pass gave Cabaye his chance to put the visitors ahead.

Recalled Dutch striker Robin Van Persie had a goal disallowed, but lacked sharpness as his team extended their winless league run to four games.

Moyes used all three of his substitutes, including giving a Premier League debut to England winger Wilfried Zaha, to no avail as Newcastle cooly retained possession and control.

"It could have been much better," lamanted Moyes. "We were needing a goal to give us confidence... We did not create enough."

Asked if his team were out of the title race, Moyes said: "I stand firm that we will be close to it and be in there or around at the end of the season."