Premier League round-up: Cabaye goal lifts Newcastle past Man United

Yohan Cabaye's goal in the 61st minute holds up for Newcastle at Old Trafford, substitute Oussama Assaidi scored in the last minute as Stoke City dented Chelsea’s title drive and Tottenham rallies for another victory.

Stoke City's Oussama Assaidi, left, celebrates his late goal, which lifted his team to a 3-2 victory over Chelsea on Saturday. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
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Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 1

Newcastle: Cabaye 61'

Man of the match: Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle)

David Moyes’ calamitous start as Manchester United manager turned into a full-blown crisis as Yohan Cabaye ended Newcastle’s 41-year wait for an Old Trafford win.

The result condemned United to back-to-back home Premier League defeats for the first time 2002.

It meant United have lost five times already this season and that they have collected just two points from their last four games.

Little wonder the reaction at the end was one of anger from the home supporters, who watched virtually the same group of players they booed off today clinch a 20th title by 11 points less than seven months ago.

For Moyes, it is absolutely the stuff of nightmares.

The Scot has been dignified in rolling the heavy blows that have already been inflicted upon him during his short tenure and he retains the unquestioned support of the club’s owners.

Yet it seems patience elsewhere has started to wear thin.

When Patrice Evra’s clearing header bounced back off Moussa Sissoko, allowing the Newcastle man a free run into the area, before cutting back a perfect cross to invite Cabaye’s first-time finish, albeit via slight deflection off Nemanja Vidic, the discontent rippled round all but a small corner of the stadium.

Amid their glee, the Magpies fans delivered two of the cruellest jibes. They suggested Moyes would be sacked in the morning and that United would be accompanying Sunderland into the Championship at the end of the season. And it is true that United are nearer the drop zone than they are the top spot they occupied for so long.

As the whistle blew on yet another goalless first-half for United, it was hard not to feel a little bit of sympathy for a set of players who appeared paralysed by fear.

Seven changes from the midweek defeat by Everton, including the return of Robin van Persie following a four-match absence with a groin strain, should have had a positive impact.

But the additional mobility compared to Wednesday was lost amid the tentativeness of a team who looked scared to lose in front of a crowd on the brink of a very negative reaction.

Too often invention was spurned in favour of safety, which in turn reinforced the defences of a solid Newcastle outfit, who never looked in danger of coughing up the type of goals they did at Swansea on their last outing.

Player-of-the-month Tim Krul pulled off a decent save from Phil Jones in the early stages but had little else to do in the first-half.

Fabricio Coloccini made an excellent clearing header to prevent Vidic getting to Adnan Januzaj’s cross, whilst the young Belgian was robbed in the box brilliantly by Yoan Gouffran.

And other than a blatant dive by Javier Hernandez, that was that for the hosts.

Newcastle did not do that much better.

But with Cheick Tiote controlling midfield and Loic Remy remaining on the move, United’s defence did not look as settled as Newcastle’s.

And when Evra was caught out of position, allowing Remy to slide a brilliant pass through for Mathieu Debuchy, whose thunderous first-time shot was turned away one-handed by David de Gea.

De Gea moments later repelled a close-range Debuchy header to at least ensure United reached the break level.

Moyes appeared to have used the interval wisely, judging by the sense of purpose his side had at the restart.

Krul saved from Hernandez and Januzaj before Evra met a Nani corner with purpose and sent a header bulleting against the post.

Vurnon Anita had no chance to react as the rebound struck him on the hand from barely six inches.

As the ball was flashing straight across goal and the diversion helped take it away to safety, a penalty surely should have been awarded. Instead referee Andre Marriner waved play on, just as he did when Tiote cut down Evra close to the Newcastle goal-line moments later.

Incidents like these tend to be followed by a hammer blow. And Cabaye duly provided it with his 10-yard finish from Sissoko’s cross - via Vidic.

The introductions of Wilfried Zaha for his Premier League debut and Anderson looked like the reactions of a desperate man, just as the noise appeared to be when Van Persie turned home what he thought was an equaliser. A brilliant call by assistant referee Sian Massey ruled otherwise.

United continued to push forward but to little effect and when Marriner called time on another sorry day, there were thousands of empty seats.

Those who remained let their feelings be known in a different way.

Stoke City upset Chelsea 3-2 with late goal

Substitute Oussama Assaidi scored in the last minute as Stoke dented Chelsea’s title drive with a 3-2 win in the Premier League on Saturday.

Assaidi won the game with an impressive strike from outside the area into the top right corner after being set up by Stephen Ireland.

Chelsea led with a ninth-minute opener from Andre Schurrle at the Britannia Stadium before Peter Crouch equalized in the 42nd and Ireland put Stoke ahead in the 50th.

Schurrle equalized with his second goal in the 53rd before he was substituted by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

Manchester City and Southampton play to draw

Manchester City’s shaky away form continued on Saturday as Dani Osvaldo’s exquisite strike ended Southampton’s three-match losing streak in style.

As impressive as City have been since Manuel Pellegrini’s arrival, they have shown a soft underbelly away from home, winning just two matches on the road – the latest of which came at West Brom on Wednesday.

It was a result they were unable to match on the south coast, where Osvaldo’s wondrous goal earned Southampton a deserved, morale-boosting 1-1 draw.

Tottenham Hotspur rally for another road win

Tottenham came from behind for the second straight away game as Paulinho’s strike and a John O’Shea own goal gave them victory.

Sunderland opened the scoring when Hugo Lloris’s punch dropped to Adam Johnson, who fired home.

The defeat leaves Sunderland five points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Crystal Palace dump Cardiff City

New Palace manager Tony Pulis enjoyed a second home victory inside a week as his side recorded a fully deserved win over Cardiff.

The former Stoke City manager, who took charge just over two weeks ago, has led Palace to back-to-back home wins as Cameron Jerome and Marouane Chamakh got the goals.

Norwich City get past West Brom 2-0

Norwich bounced back from their 5-1 defeat at Liverpool as goals from Gary Hooper and Leroy Fer helped earned a valuable win over West Brom.

Hooper scored in the 13th minute, smashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner, before Fer finished off a late counter to seal victory.

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