Ruud van Nistelrooy scored in his 10th straight league game to tie a record as defending champion Manchester United rallied to beat Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday, while free-spending Chelsea downed Leicester 2-1 to also make it two wins out of two.
The only black mark on another triumphant day for United was the first half ejection of manager Alex Ferguson for protesting a referee's decision and verbally abusing the officials. After Alan Shearer had given the Magpies the lead, United turned the game around with Roy Keane making up for Ferguson's absence from the bench with another inspirational performance in midfield.
Minutes after missing on a breakaway, van Nistelrooy latched on to a Keane through ball in the 51st minute and shot past 'keeper Shay Given to tie the game. In 1987, Liverpool's John Aldridge scored in 10 straight games in the old division one.
Eight minutes later, Paul Scholes, who scored a hat-trick in United's convincing 6-2 win at Newcastle last season, chested home a Keane cross for the winner.
Manchester United has 17 wins and three draws in the league since last December.
New Jersey's Tim Howard had no chance on Alan Shearer's headed goal in the 26th minute. But he didn't have to make a difficult save as United dominated possession at St. James' Park. Defender Rio Ferdinand bailed Howard out in the first minute of injury time when he blocked substitute Michael Chopra's goalward shot.
Much of the first half focused on referee Uriah Rennie. Ryan Giggs appeared to be hauled down by defender Andy O'Brien as he sprinted towards goal. O'Brien, already on a yellow card, was let off the hook, prompting United manager Ferguson to protest from the bench.
Television replays showed Ferguson using abusive language, and Jeff Winter -- the fourth official -- called Rennie towards the bench. Ferguson was then ordered into the stands.
Keane was asked if the ejection bothered his team.
"Well, judging by the result, no," he said. "We're not sure what went on there. The team got on with it. We knew what we had to do, and we stayed focused."
Newcastle manager Bobby Robson made a triple substitution in the 72nd minute, but United continued to dominate until Chopra's last-gasp effort.
Chelsea has bought experience since Russian Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge last month, acquiring eight established players for ?75 million (US$120 million).
One of the new arrivals, Romania's Adrian Mutu, scored the winner from 20m out just before the first half ended. After his free kick was blocked by the wall, Mutu's hard-hit shot beat Ian Walker at the far post. Mutu also dazzled the crowd with his flicks and tracked back to help the defense.
"He wanted to show everything with his dribbling and shooting, and he was nervous, but it was a special goal with his left foot," said Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri.
Lilian Nalis' own goal gave the home team the lead in the second minute, though James Scowcroft equalized in the 39th minute.
"We can play better, but that's okay because when you change a lot of players, it's normal that sometimes you play well and sometimes you don't," said Ranieri.
Another new Chelsea signing, Geremi, was one of three players sent off in the second half -- referee Rob Styles sent the Cameroon international to the dressing room for a two-footed challenge. Leicester's Alan Rogers and Riccardo Scimeca saw red later in the half.
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