[Football] Something from nothing

[Wannes]

Enjoy Man U fans. :D

LONDON (AP) -- Newcastle held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford Sunday, but the draw was enough to return the Reds to the top of the Premier League standings.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer had a penalty appeal turned down and his side's defense kept United's star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy quiet to avoid a repeat of last season's comprehensive 6-2 defeat.

The draw ended United's eight-match winning streak in all competitions dating to Dec. 6.

United leads the standings with 50 points, one ahead of Arsenal, who beat Middlesbrough 4-0 on Saturday. Chelsea remains third with 45 points after its 4-0 win over Leicester on Sunday. Newcastle remains in seventh place.

Newcastle had a poor record going into the match -- it hadn't won at Old Trafford in 32 years and lost 2-1 at St. James Park at the beginning of the season.

In the last five matches between the sides, Manchester United had scored 19 goals past the Newcastle defense. And since arriving at United in 2001, van Nistelrooy had always scored against the Magpies.

Shearer had one of the best chances for a Newcastle goal, but despite running 40 yards down the pitch to plead with referee Paul Durkin, his penalty appeal was turned down in the 25th minute.

Shearer was tripped by Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard just outside the box when he was chasing a backpass by United defender Gary Neville to the American.

United winger Ryan Giggs was taken off at halftime with a muscle injury in his back, replaced by Diego Forlan.

Both sides had good chances in a frantic match but failed to convert -- Newcastle striker Jermaine Jenas had a header ricochet off the bar and Howard caught the rebound in the 57th minute.

United had Mikael Silvestre's goal turned down in the 65th minute because of a push on Newcastle's Andy O'Brien. Minutes later, Paul Scholes an attempt parried by Given, who also caught Forlan's long range attempt soon after.

Earlier Sunday, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored twice to give the Blues a Leicester 4-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Dutchman scored his 11th goal of the season after 11 minutes, with a close-range strike at the near post after receiving a cross from Mario Melchiot.

His second, in the 44th, was a free-kick helped into the net by Leicester's Nikos Dabizas. Substitute Adrian Mutu scored the third in the 88th minute, with Celestine Babayaro completing the rout in the 90th minute.

"I was up for it, everybody was up for it," Hasselbaink said. "We had a point to prove and everybody saw what Chelsea is about. We put a good performance in and for our confidence that's important."

The win was a boost to Chelsea after its 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday -- its third defeat in five league games. Manager Claudio Ranieri made six changes from that match.

"We showed character, skill, quality, everything," Ranieri said. "This match was important to regain our confidence."

Saturday, Arsenal romped to a 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough with goals from Thierry Henry, an own goal by Boro defender Frank Queudrue and strikes by Robert Pires and Fredrik Ljungberg. Boro striker Massimo Maccarone scored a late consolation strike from the penalty spot.

Next to last Leeds United remained deep in trouble after losing 1-0 at home to Tottenham with Robbie Keane scoring the only goal of the game against his former club.

Jason Euell scored both goals as Charlton beat last place Wolves 2-0. Michael Owen returned as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 1-0 to win for the third time in seven days.

Fulham beat Everton 2-1 , Birmingham City came from behind to edge Southampton 2-1 and Bolton won a 4-3 thriller at Blackburn from 3-1 down.

Portsmouth came from 2-1 down at home to beat Manchester City 4-2 and stretch City's winless run to 14 games.

[jymi]

dont get the title of this thread, you could of just said EPL scores/wrap-up

[Wannes]

Man U got to the top of the table by actually getting nothing as it was 0-0.

It was the title CNN used. :whistle:

[Kriz]

Well they got 1 point so they got something

[Wannes]

True. :unsure: