Soccer: Shearer sinks Man Utd in seven-goal thriller

Alan Shearer was the toast of Tyneside yesterday after scoring the winner as Newcastle United beat English champions Manchester United 4-3 in a thriller.

Shearer's deflected shot in the 82nd minute earned the Magpies victory after their 3-1 lead over Alex Ferguson's side had been wiped out by goals from Ryan Giggs and Juan Veron.

The champions also had skipper Roy Keane sent off near the end after throwing the ball at Shearer.

Two late strikes earned Arsenal a 3-1 win at Fulham in a London derby, sending the Gunners to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Bolton Wanderers.

Yesterday's matches started with a minute's silence and players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for the victims of the terror attacks in the United States.

Three teams ended a dismal run of form.

Middlesbrough got their first win under manager Steve McClaren after four straight defeats, beating West Ham United 2-0, Southampton scored their first goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Bolton, and Leicester City scraped a 3-2 victory at Derby County, which led to a fracas in the players' tunnel.

Liverpool ended a run of two premier league defeats by beating Everton 3-1. But the place to be for thrills was St James Park, where Manchester United's defensive problems continued to mount, despite the signing of Laurent Blanc to replace Jaap Stam.

"You got a dazzler for sure," said Bobby Robson, celebrating his 100th match as manager of Newcastle. "It got to 3-3 with two very good teams at each other's throats."

But he added: "We were worthy winners over 90 minutes."

United manager Alex Ferguson was clearly disappointed at the way Newcastle scored the winner.

"They caught us on the hop, on the back foot," he said. "We're going through a period where we're getting punished for the mistakes we're making ... We've just got to see ourselves through it.

"It will balance itself out. We'll get plenty of zeroes against us, there's no question about that."

Arsenal's two goals in the last 10 minutes, from Thierry Henry and substitute Dennis Bergkamp, earned them three points at Fulham after Fredrik Ljungberg's 17th-minute strike had been cancelled out by Fulham's Steed Malbranque.

"It was an important win for us because we played against a very good Fulham side," Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said.

"I am strongly convinced we can have a great challenge for the title."

Meanwhile, Stam, who was offloaded by Manchester United to Lazio, said yesterday that he would never speak to Ferguson again.

"Since my split with United I have not spoken to him [Ferguson] once, and I never want to speak to him again."

The Dutchman, sold for £15.25 million ($52.95 million) last month, said he had not even had a phone call from Ferguson. "I still have a mixture of anger and frustration inside me. Yes, I do feel insulted."

Stam, aged 29, said he believed his controversial autobiography, in which he was critical of several United team-mates, was the reason he was sold.

"For three years I gave everything I had for that club. Then, in just one week, it was all turned upside down because of the hassle over my book.

"I became a villain. I felt as if I was regarded as evil at the club.

"Ferguson said that wasn't the case, but I know what he is like."

In Scotland, Henrik Larsson scored twice as champions Celtic crushed 10-man Dundee 4-0 away to open a seven-point lead over arch-rivals Rangers.

Dundee, who had several good chances before Larsson opened the scoring in the final minute of the first half, had Argentine defender Walter del Rio sent off for a second bookable offence 14 minutes from time.

Rangers can reduce Celtic's lead if they beat Motherwell, who have yet to record a victory, at home today.

Aberdeen came from behind to beat nine-man Dundee United 2-1.

Francisco Quino was hero and villain for surprise team Livingston, scoring their first goal in a 2-2 draw at St Johnstone, but being sent off in the 65th minute for a violent tackle.

- AGENCIES