Football: Berba fires United seven clear again; UNITED CHARGE TOWARDS THE TITLE.

Byline: By DAMIAN SPELLMAN at St James' Park

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

Lovenkrands 9

MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Rooney 20, Berbatov 56

NEWCASTLE: Harper, S Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Lovenkrands, R Taylor (Carroll 77), Geremi, Gutierrez, Martins, Smith (LuaLua 82). Subs: Krul, Cacapa, Butt, Ameobi, Edgar.

BOOKED:S Taylor, Gutierrez.

MAN UTD: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Berbatov (Giggs 90), Rooney. Subs: Foster, Anderson, Scholes, Evans, Tevez, Eckersley.

BOOKED: Ferdinand, Vidic.

REFEREE: Steve Bennett ATT: 51,636.

DIMITAR BERBATOV fired Manchester United seven points clear at the top of the Premier League despite lowly Newcastle spoiling Edwin van der Sar's night.

The Bulgarian clinched the points with a 56th-minute strike, but United had to come from behind to re-establish their advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.

There had been jubilation on Tyneside when, with just nine minutes gone, Peter Lovenkrands ended Van der Sar's record of not having conceded a league goal since November 8 after 1,311 minutes after the keeper failed to cling on to Jonas Gutierrez's shot.

But it took the visitors just 11 minutes to restore parity through Wayne Rooney, and Berbatov ensured United's run of successive leaguewins stretched to 11 after Park Ji-Sung pounced on an error by Ryan Taylor.

As Sir Alex Ferguson's bandwagon rumbled on ominously, opposite number Chris Hughtonwas at least able to console himself with a spirited performance in front of an appreciative crowd of 51,636, although that will count for little if it is not transformed into points over the coming weeks.

Such have been the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs this season since they drew 1-1 at Old Trafford during the opening round of fixtures in August, that the talk before kick-off was not of if United would win, but by how many.

But with just nine minutes gone, it was Newcastle who took the lead against all odds as Van der Sar's run without conceding a Premier League goal came to an end in ignominious circumstances.

The Dutchman failed to hold Jonas' shot as it leapt up off the sodden turf and Lovenkrands stabbed the rebound home before casting an anxious glance at referee Steve Bennett's assistant and only then beginning his celebrations.

It might have been 2-0 within four minutes when Obafemi Martins fired inches wide under pressure from Rio Ferdinand.

However, before too long United had made themost of their greater share of the possession to get themselves back on level terms in fine style.

Rooney, back in the side after recovering from a virus, turned superbly past Fabricio Coloccini on to John O'Shea's pass and blasted a left-foot shot past Steve Harper with the help of a deflection off Steven Taylor, although the defender's contribution was largely irrelevant.

United continued to enjoy the greater share of the ball and defender Nemanja Vidic headed over with the goal at his mercy after the home defence had failed to deal with a 39th-minute Michael Carrick corner.

Mr Bennett had to deal with an ugly incident in injury time when Steven Taylor caught Cristiano Ronaldo with a flailing arm and then careered into Carrick on the sideline, sparking a furious response from skipper Ferdinand.

After consulting his assistant, the referee booked Taylor, and Ferdinand followed him as he continued his protests following the half-time whistle.

Van de Sar had to race from his line to prevent Lovenkrands from latching on to a 52nd-minute through-ball, but when the second goal did arrive, it did so predictably at the other end.

Ryan Taylor slipped as he attempted to chest a deep ball back to Harper and Park got there first to square for Berbatov, who calmly slotted it into the empty net.

Harper had to save from Ronaldo and Berbatov in quick succession as time ran down, and then dived bravely at the Portugal international's feet after he had slipped away from Steven Taylor.

But Newcastle made one last push and it was Van der Sar who finished the busier of the two keepers as he kept out first Lovenkrands and then Martins, although without any great difficulty.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Wayne Rooney - his usual industrious self.

CAPTION(S):

Dimitar Berbatov celebrates scoring Manchester United's winner last night (left), Patrice Evra (top) and Wayne Rooney in action