Newcastle 1 Manchester United 5
IT wasn't quite 6-0, but Newcastle's latest humiliation at the hands of Manchester United was every bit as chastening as last month's trouncing at Old Trafford.
It was a case of men against boys for the second time in six weeks as Sir Alex Ferguson's side underlined just how far the Magpies have slipped since they recorded a 5-0 victory over the Red Devils a little over 11 years ago.
And with Kevin Keegan's wait for the first victory of his second spell as Newcastle boss having been extended to six games, the remaining 11 matches of the season will see United battling against the drop.
Make no mistake about it, having taken just three points from the last available 30, Newcastle have tumbled into the heart of a relegation fight.
They should get out of it, but the lack of creativity on display at St James' Park this evening hardly augurs well and Newcastle's defence remains as porous and ponderous as ever.
Yes, Manchester United were impressive, with Cristiano Ronaldo helping himself to an impudent double, Wayne Rooney grabbing a brace of his own and Michael Carrick calmly pulling the strings at the heart of midfield.
But with Alan Smith running around like a headless chicken and Joey Barton repeatedly passing the ball to nobody in particular, Newcastle failed to ask any questions of the reigning Premier League champions.
And with Abdoulaye Faye and Steven Taylor failing to keep things tight at the back, Manchester United looked dangerous whenever they ventured into the Newcastle half.
If things don't improve soon, the Magpies could find themselves perilously close to the bottom three going into the final three or four weeks of the season.
1:35pm Sunday 24th February 2008
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