For the first twenty minutes of the game yesterday, Manchester United simply kept the ball away from their opponents in black and white - following Johan Cruyff's old adage that you can't win without the ball - passing well, creating space and sending the full-backs, particularly Rafael down the wings to take advantage of some occasionally comical Newcastle defending. The team, who so far this season have failed to really hit the heights of their potential - losing last game to Spurs - were clinical in their use of the ball, carving opportunities easily before Newcastle could get into their stride, and winning two corners that ultimately lead to the first two goals. When not in possession, particular in that opening period, and later after Newcastle had enjoyed a more impressive uplift in form, the Man Utd players harried and pressured their Newcastle counterparts on the ball, forcing errors, and making sure the potentially dangerous creative threat of Hatem Ben Arfa was nullified, and Yohan Cabaye was forced to operate a lot deeper than where he is typically most effective. Thanks to the over-zealous refereeing of Howard Webb - which displeased the home crowd no end - that pressure lead to a lot of yellow cards, particularly when Newcastle were in the ascendancy between the second and third goals, but it was a gameplan that worked well for Sir Alex Ferguson. Newcastle on the other hand were lax in possession until they woke up just before the twenty minute mark, failing to capitalise on their periods of increased possession, and to overcome the robust defensive work of last season's Premier League runners-up. Crucially, Newcastle made just 12 tackles, to Man Utd's 31, and made 108 less passes during the game, despite being the home side. Sir Alex Ferguson said his side played the best they have all season, and that comes down to how well the team used the ball, and pressurised their opponents when they didn't have it. A simple, but invaluable lesson. But then just as importantly, victory cannot come without someone putting away your chances...