Manchester United holds Magpies

Manchester United's title charge was held up after they were held to a goalless draw at Newcastle United.

The Magpies enjoyed a good start to the first half, while United probably had the better chances before coming more into things before the break.

United dominated possession after the break and Ryan Giggs spurned the best chance to seal the points for Sir Alex Ferguson's men. Both sides had penalty shouts turned down as they had to settle for a point apiece.

United stay top but are seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, while Newcastle move to ninth on 40 points.

United missed a great chance to take the lead in the second minute when they broke up-field through Wayne Rooney down the left and he put a low cross on a plate for Javier Hernandez, but Newcastle keeper Tim Krul produced a great point-blank save.

Newcastle had a good spell of pressure with Jonas Gutierrez and Shola Ameobi having efforts on goal, before Rooney missed a good chance at the other end on 19 minutes.

Hernandez played him into the area and he fired over with just Krul to beat.

However replays showed that the Magpies keeper got a vital touch to take the ball over the crossbar.

United got more possession as the half wore on, but Peter Lovenkrands wasted a good chance for Newcastle on 44 minutes when he headed wide from a Joey Barton cross with just United keeper Edwin Van der Sar to beat.

United pressed well after the break, but Newcastle defended resolutely and they restricted the visitors to just one chance on 69 minutes when Ryan Giggs somehow fired wide in front of goal from a Patrice Evra pull-back.

Referee Lee Probert correctly turned down penalty appeals at both ends when Peter Lovenkrands went down after a challenge by Anderson, while Hernandez was booked in stoppage time after going to ground following a tackle by Danny Simpson.