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Ryan Giggs rolled back the years at Old Trafford, producing a mesmerising display of dribbling skills to keep Manchester United in the Premiership title race.

The Welshman, whose 13-year Red Devils career is threatened by an ongoing contract wrangle, tormented struggling Southampton all afternoon and while his name might not appear on a good-looking United scoresheet, his importance to the Red Devils' fourth successive league win cannot be understated.

It did look as though all his hard work would go unrewarded as United struggled to make the much-needed breakthrough. But once it came, with Paul Scholes fourth goal in three games eight minutes after the re-start, the visitors did well to avoid being swamped completely.

Wayne Rooney smashed home a second, and his seventh of the campaign, taking advantage of an inspired Giggs through-ball, before Cristiano Ronaldo made amends for his previous profligacy, beating the unlucky Kasey Keller with an outstanding volley from Gary Neville's cross.

The result keeps United nine points behind Chelsea and four adrift of Arsenal, and with that pair due to meet at Highbury next weekend, the window of opportunity remains open for a familiar late championship charge.

That will be of little consolation to Saints temporary boss Steve Wigley, whose side remain entrenched in the bottom three, with his future still open to doubt.

News of Chelsea's four-goal hammering of Newcastle filtered into the Old Trafford stands just before kick-off, reinforcing the belief that victory was essential to maintain a credible challenge to the cash-rich Londoners.

A six-match winning run, plus the confident words of Sir Alex Ferguson feeling the early season 'blip' was now behind them, fuelled the belief three points would be achieved with ease, even without star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who damaged an Achilles in training yesterday.

What actually transpired was a return to the wasteful ways of a few months ago as United dominated possession throughout the first half, carved out a huge number of chances, and took precisely none of them.

Keller could claim to have been relatively untroubled during the opening half hour of failed opportunities, although his workload increased significantly when Ronaldo sent a low shot fizzing towards the corner, forcing the American into a scrambling stop, before the on-loan Tottenham man had to beat away a powerful 35-yard Rooney blast.

Rooney is the major victim of what Arsene Wenger dubbed United's new 'boring' formation, which sees the teenager drop deep behind a lone striker, in this instance Alan Smith.

Ferguson scoffed at Wenger's comments, pointing out Arsenal play exactly the same way, although not many of the fretful home support would have disagreed with the Frenchman as the first half rumbled on in disappointing fashion.

More chances followed but when the teams trooped in for their break, they were still deadlocked, a not insignificant achievement for Southampton given they had seen skipper James Beattie limp off after just 21 minutes.

It looked like there was more misery to come for the hosts as the second half started with Ronaldo and Rooney both failing to keep shots on target. But the frustration was only temporary as Southampton finally cracked.

The hosts needed a helping hand with their opener, as the visitors twice failed to clear a Giggs corner, returning central defender Claus Lundekvam eventually nodding the ball to Ferdinand close to the byline.

Ferdinand immediately lifted a cross into the Saints' six-yard area, where an unmarked Scholes was waiting to gleefully head it home to continue his impressive recent scoring burst.

If that effort was something of a scramble, United's second four minutes later, was in keeping with the Red Devils' rich tradition of footballing excellence.

First, Heinze found Giggs in space with a perfect pass into his path. Then, the Welshman, having let the ball run on, lifted it over despairing Southampton legs, dropping it right into Rooney's path, who promptly smashed it into the roof of the net.

It was an obvious reminder of Giggs' outstanding talent, and with the Welshman for once eclipsing Ronaldo, in both the number and effectiveness of his runs at the visitors defence, the home fans quickly sang his praises.

Whether that will cut any ice in the Old Trafford boardroom remains to be seen as Giggs continues to haggle for a two-year extension to his contract, which expires in 2006, rather than the single season deal currently on offer.

Ronaldo spurned a glorious chance to break his duck for the campaign when his audacious attempt to beat Keller with a delicate chip sailed over the bar.

And while he eventually found the target with a fine volley from Gary Neville's cross, it could not eclipse Giggs' contribution to such a vital victory.

Teams
Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Smith (Bellion 62).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Brown, Miller, Fletcher.

Goals: Scholes 53, Rooney 58, Ronaldo 87.

Southampton: Keller, Nilsson, Jakobsson, Lundekvam, Le Saux, Telfer, Delap (Fernandes 86), Anders Svensson, Higginbotham, Beattie (Blackstock 22), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Blayney, Dodd, Crouch.

Booked: Lundekvam.

Att: 67,921

Ref: B Knight (Kent).