Newcastle 1 Man Utd 5:MICHAEL CARRICK did not board the bus that took his team-mates back across the Pennines with their collective confidence presumably soaring by the mile. Manchester United's key central midfielder here instead opted to stay close to his roots and remain in Newcastle overnight, catching up with those who once cheered him on at Wallsend Boys Club and are now loyally willing Alex Ferguson's side to regain the Premier League title at Arsenal's expense.
"In the Wallsend days it was just a dream for me to play football at the top level, so now being part of this United team means I've got to pinch myself at times," said Carrick, who ranked alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as Ferguson's most influential individuals. "Coming back home and seeing my family helps keep my feet on the ground."
If Ferguson's supremely gifted players arguably have excuses to, occasionally, feel they are more than mere mortals, there is currently nothing like a trip to Tyneside to reacquaint a young high-flyer with several gloomier aspects of the human condition.
"I won't be going out in the Bigg Market or on the Quayside tonight," joked Carrick, well aware that even Geordie-born United players may not be entirely welcome in the Toon when they have just played a significant role in plunging Kevin Keegan's side deeper into relegation waters.
Newcastle are crying out for a midfielder of Carrick's vision and passing range, and they also desperately need at least a touch of the breathtaking pace which has taken United within touching distance of the Premier League summit.
"We have real pace and when we attack at speed our front four or five can cause any team problems," said Carrick, who believes United can erode Arsenal's three-point lead at the top. "We've also been playing with great style but we didn't play great in the second half; maybe we were too comfortable. Newcastle are going through a tough time."
It was the unvarnished truth from a midfielder who always hoped to play for his home-town team but somehow ended up joining West Ham United before heading for Old Trafford via Tottenham.
There was a time when Damien Duff might have swapped Blackburn Rovers for United but he went to Chelsea instead and, having seemingly lost his pace somewhere along the way, wound up at St James' Park. Pitiful home performances were plentiful here - step forward the woeful Joey Barton - but possibly the most depressing came from Duff.
Unlike some team-mates the left-winger kept trying to do the right, intelligent, things but his legs refused to carry him beyond opponents who would once have trailed in his wake.
With concern building that Michael Owen's powers of acceleration may also be waning, the only genuinely speedy home player on view was Charles N'Zogbia. Unfortunately for Keegan he is not a left-back and, once again deployed out of position, the young Frenchman highlighted precisely why.
When Ronaldo - astutely shifted to the left by Ferguson after Habib Beye subdued Nani - skinned the Senegalese before crossing for the on-rushing Rooney to volley home at the far post, N'Zogbia, who should have been tracking the England forward, was left in no man's land.
Earlier Owen had claimed a penalty after collapsing under Rio Ferdinand's challenge but the defender won the ball fairly, and thereafter Newcastle's early promise evaporated.
Carlos Tevez headed wide when it appeared easier to score. No matter, Newcastle simply could not fathom out the gorgeous geometry of Carrick's passing and, when one through-ball bisected Beye and Steven Taylor, Ronaldo left Shay Given helpless.
Ronaldo scored the third - and his 29th of the season - early in the second half, his adhesive control enabling him to round Steve Harper, on for the Given, who had a groin injury, at speed after Darren Fletcher's pass and Taylor's farcical attempt at a tackle.
Although Abdoulaye Faye lashed home only the third goal of Keegan's latest St James' reign, from James Milner's corner and the substitute Andy Carroll's flick, United remained omnipotent.
"As soon as they scored we put the game to bed," said Carrick, recalling how Rooney, who variously played striker, winger and midfielder, bent a shot beyond Harper before conjuring United's fifth for Louis Saha. "That's the standard we set ourselves and we've closed the gap on Arsenal."
Arsene Wenger should be grateful United do not face Newcastle every week. Goodness knows what the final score might have been had Ronaldo remained on the pitch for 90 minutes rather than the 67 Ferguson afforded him. Played on the right wing, the left wing and through the middle as a striker.
