LAST week, Sir Alex Ferguson took his Manchester United players on a team-bonding exercise that involved them assembling and manning a raft to avoid falling into a lake in North Wales. Yesterday, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, those same players ensured that Newcastle's season sank without trace.

Just three days after a calamitous 4-1 defeat in Lisbon saw them crash out of the UEFA Cup, the Magpies suffered an identically ignominious reverse to end their FA Cup dreams.

Before flying to Portugal, Souness described the last week as Newcastle's biggest of the last 35 years. After two humiliating setbacks, a host of injuries and yet another much-publicised bust-up with a member of the playing staff, it has, instead, turned into one of the club's worst.

Now, the Scot will end the season trying to make sure he does not achieve what even Kenny Dalglish or Ruud Gullit failed to manage - a finish lower than 13th place in the Premiership.

It will not be easy. Newcastle, who it should not be forgotten finished fifth in the league last season and made it to the last four of the UEFA Cup, currently look as devoid of both spirit and substance as they have done for some time.

While yesterday's defeat was not quite as emphatic as the infamous 4-0 hiding dished out by Manchester United in 1996's Charity Shield, it delivered a damning verdict on Souness' attempts at reconstructing the squad he inherited from Sir Bobby Robson.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy helped himself to a brace, and Paul Scholes scored yet another goal against the Magpies, as Newcastle were over-run by a Manchester United side who look good bets to extend their run of having won the FA Cup every time they have knocked the Tynesiders out of the competition.

Shola Ameobi's second-half strike at least salvaged some pride but, by the time Cristiano Ronaldo scored his side's fourth in the 76th minute, Newcastle were down and out.

Too many Newcastle players failed to perform, and Souness will have to acknowledge that most of his so-called stars displayed neither the ability nor the attitude needed to see off one of the best sides in England.

Injuries and suspensions undeniably hit Newcastle hard. Titus Bramble's latest groin problem ruled him out of his "dream date" in Cardiff - teenager Steven Taylor lined up alongside Jean-Alain Boumsong at the heart of the defence - while Nicky Butt partnered Amdy Faye against his former club in the enforced absence of both Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer.

Taylor started the season playing in the reserves but, with Andy O'Brien suffering a crisis of confidence, the teenage centre-half has become an integral part of Newcastle's first-choice defence in recent weeks.

He was certainly a key figure in the opening ten minutes as the Magpies' backline sought to repel a series of relentless attacking raids from the team in red.

With Newcastle's back four defending on the edge of their own box - a ploy which contributed to their dramatic late downfall in Portugal - both Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo wrought havoc as their opponents repeatedly failed to clear their lines.

The former instigated a passing move that ended with van Nistelrooy rolling Boumsong before shooting straight at Shay Given, before the latter was booked for an outrageous dive after drifting inside a clearly unfit Celestine Babayaro and crumbling under an invisible challenge from Taylor.

Ronaldo's ability is beyond doubt - the Portuguese international just about won last year's FA Cup final by himself - but, while he continues to tumble so theatrically, he will remain a figure who is reviled as much as revered.

He is devilishly difficult for defenders to deal with though and, after supplying the ninth-minute cross from which Scholes saw his shot blocked from close-range, his 19th-minute centre led to Manchester United taking the lead.

The former Sporting star - an ironic history given last week's problems in the Portuguese capital - produced a driven delivery that eluded the falling Boumsong and fell at the feet of van Nistelrooy.

The Dutch striker might have gone three months without a goal but, combining strength and skill, he peeled off Taylor before guiding a skidding strike beyond Given and in off the far post.

The early setback demanded an immediate response but, while Robert whipped in crosses from left and right that narrowly evaded the loitering Alan Shearer, Newcastle were unable to cultivate enough sustained spells of possession to trouble a Manchester United defence marshalled by the typically assured Rio Ferdinand.

With Butt and Faye's guardian roles taking them out of the attacking equation, the Magpies were relying upon Robert and Milner to provide the forward momentum that might have created an opening for either Shearer or Ameobi.

Neither saw enough of the ball to do that, but Robert's set-piece delivery at least created Newcastle's only chance of the first half three minutes before the break.

Shearer bravely got a head to his right-wing cross - and got a boot in the face from Ferdinand for his efforts that could, and perhaps should, have resulted in a penalty - but Faye could only direct his header away from goal as he blocked off the view of Tim Howard.

A one-goal deficit would at least have given Newcastle a glimmer of hope at the interval but, instead, more defensive indiscipline saw Souness' side fall further behind on the stroke of half-time.

Ronaldo was again the instigator, with his right-wing cross inviting Scholes to dart in front of a static Boumsong. The former England international duly obliged and, while Boumsong barely left the ground, Scholes leapt prodigiously to direct the deftest of glancing headers past a familiarly exposed Given.

At a cost of £8m, Newcastle have a right to demand more of a defender who impresses on the ground but seems to do little to counter his side's repeated failings in the air.

The Magpies also have a right to expect far better things from Butt and, after spending most of the first half treading water, the England international handed his former team-mates their third goal 12 minutes after the re-start.

Despite having all the time in the world in which to pick out a pass, Butt casually deposited a simple square ball at the feet of Rooney and, after a slick passing move, van Nistelrooy was given both time and space to guide a precise right-foot finish past Given.

That should have been that but, within two minutes of going three goals behind, Newcastle somehow found themselves a lifeline.

Ameobi's intelligent one-two with Shearer unlocked the Manchester United defence and, after breaking clear, the Nigeria-born striker guided a wonderfully assured finish through Howard's legs.

Suddenly, Newcastle geared themselves up for an incredible recovery. For ten minutes, Ameobi found himself twisting and turning into the penalty area while Shearer, sensing a last shot at silverware, scampered far and wide with a haste that belied his increasing years.

Throwing men forward inevitably left the Magpies exposed at the other end though and, in the space of seven second-half minutes, Given made significant saves from van Nistelrooy, Scholes, Rooney and Ronaldo that kept his side in the game.

He was eventually beaten again 14 minutes from the end, with man-of-the-match Ronaldo finding himself completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box before slotting home.

Result: Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 4.

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