Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored second-half goals Sunday to give Manchester United a 2-0 victory at Newcastle, the third win in three Premier League games as the Red Devils try to keep pace with leader Chelsea.
Rooney broke through in the 66th, charging into the area and driving a loose ball behind Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. Van Nistelrooy added the clincher in injury time, set up by Rooney.
Manchester United has played one game fewer than Chelsea, but has also been perfect like the Blues with only victories and no goals allowed.
Newcastle is headed the other way. The Magpies are winless in four league games and have yet to score. Newcastle, Sunderland and Portsmouth are the only three clubs without victories.
"It was an important result because Newcastle were a very, very determined team today -- difficult to break down," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said.
In Sunday's other match, Dennis Rommedahl, Chris Perry and Darren Bent scored in Charlton's 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough. The Addicks, like Manchester United, have won their first three Premier League games.
Defending champion Chelsea leads the league with 12 points followed by Manchester City with 10 and Charlton and Manchester United with nine. Bolton and Tottenham have seven.
Newcastle started Albert Luque immediately after a £9.5 million (14 million euro) transfer from Deportivo La Coruna.
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