United on top after a penalty row

Manchester - Newcastle ended Manchester United's eight-match winning streak by drawing 0-0 at Old Trafford.

But United returned to the top of the Premier League as Alan Shearer was controversially refused a 25th minute penalty.

Newcastle's 32-year winless streak at Old Trafford could have ended if referee Paul Durkin had had a better view when United keeper Tim Howard tripped Shearer and after the match the official agreed he probably made the wrong decision.

Shearer raced 40 yards down the pitch to plead with Durkin after he had been floored chasing a backpass by United defender Gary Neville to the American keeper.

The official was unmoved but after the match explained on tv that he had had a poor view of the incident and was not sufficiently certain there had been contact to award a spot-kick.

"I was expecting the ball to be played upfield and it was rather a poor passback and I was caught quite a distance from play," Durkin told Sky Sports.

"I was just totally uncertain whether there had been any contact but obviously now I have seen it on television there was a little bit of contact there and Newcastle can count themselves a little bit unlucky."

Shearer claimed Durkin would not have hesitated to point to the spot had it been a Manchester player who was brought down.

"I've no doubt if I'd been playing in red it would have been a certain penalty," the former England striker said.

"But I suppose it is asking too much for Alan Shearer to be given a penalty at Old Trafford in front of the Stretford End."

The denied penalty was not the only moment of controversy in the match. United felt equally aggrieved over Durkin's decision to disallow a second half effort from Mikael Silvestre.

The French defender volleyed a Diego Forlan corner past Newcastle keeper Shay Given in the 66th minute but was adjudged to have impeded Andy O'Brien as he jostled for space in the six-yard box.

Durkin said he was happy with that decision but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted the goal should have stood.

"I thought it was a perfectly good goal, and I thought it was a penalty kick for Newcastle," Ferguson said.

"Paul Durkin is right that you've got to get the big decisions right, but I think he's giving himself a 50 percent get-out clause."

Despite the Shearer incident and a lacklustre display from his side, Ferguson insisted United could and should have taken all three points.

"We had the better chances and better spells of pressure. They pressed very well and showed determination but I didn't think they really created any chances."

Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson said he thought Durkin had got both big decisions wrong, although he applauded the match official's willingness to acknowledge his mistake.

"Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. I suppose you could say it worked out as 1-1."

Ferguson meanwhile revealed that Ryan Giggs, who went off at half-time with a pulled back muscle, is unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday's trip to bottom side Wolves. -- CNN News

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