Roy Keane was sent-off in the final minute as Manchester United suffered their first Premiership defeat of the season in a seven-goal thriller with Newcastle United at St James' Park. The home side stormed into a 3-1 lead over the reigning champions with goals from Laurent Robert, Rob Lee and Nicos Dabizas, but Ryan Giggs and Juan Sebastion Veron added to an earlier strike from Ruud van Nistelrooy as the visitors looked set to snatch an unlikely draw. However, Alan Shearer struck eight minutes from time to hand Bobby Robson a thrilling 4-3 victory in his 100th game in charge. United's misery was complete when Roy Keane was sent off for violent conduct by referee Steve Bennett in the dying seconds. The United and Irish captain was dismissed for the second successive season at St James' Park for aiming a blow at Shearer.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough climbed off the foot of the table with a 2-0 win over West Ham at The Riverside Stadium. First half goals from Brian Deane and Allan Johnston gave 'Boro their first win of the season and under-fire boss Steve McLaren much needed breathing room. Elsewhere, two late goals from Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp gave Arsenal a deserved 3-1 win over London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage. Freddie Ljungberg gave The Gunners the lead in the 17th minute, but summer signing Steed Malbranque restored parity in the 48th. However, the double strike in the final eight minutes confined the newly promoted side to their second defeat of the season and secure top spot for Arsenal.
Southampton built on their midweek Worthington Cup win over Brighton to claim their first Premiership goal and win, with an unlikely 1-0 victory over early pace setters Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Latvian international Marian Pahars grabbed the only goal of the game in the 77th minute, to the relief of manager Stuart Gray and the travelling Saints supporters.
And Leicester City boss Peter Taylor will sleep a little easier tonight following his struggling side's 3-2 triumph over Derby County at Pride Park.
Filed by Shane Murray
