A CONTROVERSIAL penalty and a defensive display of high quality secured Newcastle United a well earned point at Old Trafford this afternoon.

With Steven Taylor's fully-committed performance at the heart of the defence epitomising a Magpies display full of character, Manchester United had to settle for a draw in their attempts to stay with Premier League leaders Manchester City.

After a pretty even first half in which Newcastle could easily have been in front, United took the lead four minutes after the break with a fortunate goal.

When Wayne Rooney's initial free-kick was blocked by the wall, his volley from the rebound was blocked by Taylor but bounced off Javier Hernandez and dropped in Tim Krul's net.

At that point there looked little way back for Newcastle, who had lost the momentum they had shown in the first half going forward.

But when referee Michael Jones awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute for Rio Ferdinand's tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa – that looked like he won the ball – Newcastle had their chance.

Demba Ba took his time before coolly slotting in his ninth goal of the season.

After that Manchester United pushed and pushed in the hope of regaining the lead.

And when Jonas Gutierrez was red carded with 11 minutes remaining for a second yellow card – the second of which was for a rash challenge on Nani – the task became even harder.

But with Taylor leading by example at the heart of a resolute defence and Krul making a number of top saves, including a close range stop to deny Nemanja Vidic, Newcastle held on.

Hernandez did think he had won it with almost the last kick of the game, only to learn the assistant referee had ruled him offside when he side-footed Ryan Giggs' cross in.

It was a point that keeps Newcastle fourth and a performance that helped them to quickly recover from the defeat at City seven days earlier.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2) De Gea; Fabio (Smalling 90), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Macheda 88); Nani, Giggs, Carrick, Young; Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Evans, Park, Valencia, Gibson, Lindegaard (gk).

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor; Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 64), Guthrie (Perch 74), Cabaye, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 80); Ba. Subs: Santon, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Elliot (gk).