SIR BOBBY ROBSON'S refusal to rule out new signings ahead of this weekend's transfer deadline was more telling of Newcastle's Premiership title credentials than his post-mortem on their performance against the champions.

With an uncharacteristic helping hand from referee Uriah Rennie, who sent off visiting manager Sir Alex Ferguson instead of home defender Andy O'Brien, Newcastle led at half-time through captain Alan Shearer, the Red Devils' bete noire.

But 13 minutes into the second half, normal service had been resumed as Ferguson's men profited from skipper Roy Keane's midfield mastery and Newcastle's defensive deficiencies.

Robson acknowledged that his side "had a bit of luck'' when O'Brien escaped a red card after hauling down a goal-bound Ryan Giggs on the edge of the 18-yard box, only two minutes before Shearer struck.

Rennie, who sent off Shearer in controversial circumstances here against Aston Villa four years ago, spared O'Brien a similar fate.

It was a non-decision that provoked such rage in Ferguson that, after the intervention of fourth official Jeff Winter, the Man. United manager was banished for "foul and abusive language". He now faces a three-match touchline ban.

Fergie, Robson revealed, watched the rest of the game on TV in the comfort and sanctuary of the Newcastle boss's newly-decorated office, with tea, biscuits and egg and bacon butties thrown in.

"He ate all the biscuits,'' complained Robson in a tongue-in-cheek way.

But it was Robson's assertion that Man. United had just "edged it" that really took the biscuit.

Newcastle might have been more than a match for them in the first half, but after the break there was, as they say, only one team in it.

Robson, however, mounted a staunch defence of his side and insisted that - based on statistics - they had "closed the gap'' on the title-holders since last season, when Newcastle lost 6-2 here and 5-3 at Old Trafford.

"Last season, we were 4-1 down here at half-time and this time we were one up, so that's a significant difference,'' said Robson.

"Last season, they scored 11 times against us, so I think we've closed the gap somewhat, although the gap is still there.

"How big that gap is, I don't know. We've got a bit to do, but I don't fear for our future. We have a fine side.

"But I've had to tell my players that, even at this stage of the season, we've lost a six-pointer. We had them, and we let them get away.''

As Robson was at pains to point out, he was without two key players through injury in centre-back Jonathan Woodgate and striker Craig Bellamy.

But it was in midfield that Man. United dominated. Keane was highly critical of his first-half display, describing it as "shocking'' and possibly his worst for his club.

If perfectionist Keane has a reputation for being hard on others, he is even harder on himself.

Alongside Eric Djemba-Djemba, he was ultimately superior to a semi-fit Kieron Dyer and a jaded Gary Speed, whose midweek exertions with Wales in Belgrade clearly took a toll.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, with partner Nancy Dell'Olio at his side, would have found the performance of Dyer - and that of right midfielder Lee Bowyer - distinctly unprepossessing.

Robson, though, maintained: "I wouldn't say we were outplayed in midfield; I didn't see Keane and Djemba-Djemba getting in behind Dyer and Speed.

"I saw Keane being dominant at times but I thought, overall, that Gary had a fine match and battled him. I never thought about leaving Gary out. He didn't let us down.

"I wouldn't say Keane's performance resulted in us losing. Our defending on the two goals cost us the match.''

Robson was unhappy that Ruud van Nistelrooy had space for a "double-decker bus'' when he received a clever ball from Keane on the edge of the area and turned away from Titus Bramble to equalise in the 51st minute with the 50th Premiership goal of his Man. United career.

Bramble appeared to have stepped up in an attempt to play offside, but Aaron Hughes played van Nistelrooy on.

Seven minutes later, Keane beat Speed to cross from the right, van Nistelrooy dummied and Paul Scholes - who like the Dutchman scored a hat-trick against Newcastle last season - ghosted between Bowyer and Andy Griffin to chest the ball in from close range with ridiculous ease.

Shearer had nodded Newcastle ahead in the 26th minute with his third goal of the season when he met Laurent Robert's free-kick - the French winger's only notable contribution - after using all his strength and cunning to literally hold off Mikael Silvestre.

Having already stated there would be no new arrivals at St. James' Park until the transfer window reopens in January, Robson was coy when asked if his side's showing had brought about a rethink.

Wednesday's Champions League second-leg qualifier with Partizan Belgrade holds the key to any plans.

"I can't talk about signing players; we'll do what we have to do,'' said Robson, who is an admirer of Leeds striker Alan Smith.

"We have a good squad. We've lost narrowly to Manchester United - not Nobody United - and we were winning. So, at some stage, we must have been pretty good. We might have got a draw at the end.''

Robson was referring to the moment 19-year-old striker Michael Chopra, making his home Premiership debut as a substitute for Shola Ameobi, missed the chance to make a name for himself.

Rio Ferdinand, who Robson felt was a shade fortunate not to concede a penalty when Ameobi went down under his challenge in the fourth minute, made a crucial block to deny Chopra in the dying seconds.

"Chopra could have been a hero on the Quayside,'' said Robson. "Van Nistelrooy might have scored that one, and that's the difference.

"But it was a great run by the boy and Alan Shearer hit a great ball to him. I thought Alan gave a masterful display; a tough, competitive centre-forward's display.''

If only every Newcastle player could be relied on to perform with such consistency.

Result: Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 2.

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