NEWCASTLE'S Olivier Bernard last night confirmed that his first goal of the season was a complete fluke.

The Frenchman, operating on the left side of midfield and only playing because of injuries to Laurent Robert and Hugo Viana, stunned Old Trafford with a 35th-minute cross-shot which embarrassed fellow countryman Fabian Barthez.

The Manchester United goalkeeper, guilty of a few gaffes in his time, looked bemused after the ball sailed over his head and in off the far post to bring Newcastle level following Paul Scholes' opener.

Bernard, whose last goal came in the 6-2 victory over Everton at St. James' Park at Easter, admitted: "It was just a cross to the far post and I somehow put it in - I didn't mean it.

"We got back to 1-1, but we seemed to spend the whole game coming from behind. It was a very tough match for us."

Bernard, who usually plays at left-back, concurred with skipper Alan Shearer's view that the Magpies' defending was "a shambles".

Bernard said: "Defensively we were very poor. We just made too many mistakes. I think we could have done much better.

"But Manchester United are a good team. One mistake against them equals one goal and we made a few mistakes.

"It was good that we scored three, but Manchester United play attacking football and when you don't defend well you pay the price."

Ruud van Nistelrooy led the charge for the Red Devils with a hat-trick and Bernard added: "Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs all played very well and it just shows what a good squad they have when they have so many injuries. They just keep coming up with the results."

Newcastle must now quickly switch their attention back to Europe and Wednesday's Champions' League visit from Inter Milan.

And Bernard maintains that the Geordies' belief hasn't been dented by Saturday's setback.

"After the first phase, we have a lot of confidence," he insisted. "In the beginning it was new to everybody and we were a bit unsure of ourselves.

"But we learned a lot and now we honestly think we can do well in the second phase.

"If we win our three home games, we can certainly qualify for the quarter-finals."

* Gary Speed picked up his fifth booking of the season at Old Trafford and is banned for Newcastle's game at Aston Villa a week on Saturday. Bernard is also suspended for that game following his sending off in the Reserves match against Bolton Wanderers last week.

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