Manchester United 2 Charlton 0
Two of Sir Alex Ferguson's old stagers ensured the long-serving Manchester
United boss enjoyed a productive 999th game in charge of the Old Trafford
outfit.
The failure of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to muster a Premiership goal
between them has been one of the major factors why the Red Devils have fallen so
far adrift of Chelsea and Arsenal during an inconsistent first third of the
season.
Although criticism of the pair has been growing over the last few weeks,
Ferguson has remained loyal - and his patience was rewarded with a quick one-two
either side of the interval.
The double blast proved enough to see off a dogged Charlton side who for 40
minutes looked like adding their name to a list of obdurate league foes to have
unexpectedly taken points off Ferguson's men already this term.
It also enabled Ferguson's side to build on last weekend's victory over
Newcastle and start to mount a worthwhile challenge to the imperious London duo
currently battling for domestic supremacy.
After a drab start, it was somehow fitting that Giggs should step in to bale
Ferguson out of trouble as his manager approaches Tuesday's significant
milestone.
The Welshman has been involved in 609 of Ferguson's 999 games so far. But
there have been dark rumours circulating that at 31, his powers are on the wane
and he could be out of Old Trafford even before his illustrious manager.
United have offered no more than a one-year extension to Giggs' current
contract which expires at the end of next season - and with the winger left out
of the Red Devils side for the last four games, it is little wonder that a
parting of the ways has been mooted.
So it was with perfect timing that Giggs struck his first Premiership goal of
the campaign. His first-half performance was not exactly a throw-back to days
gone by, but it was about the best United could muster as they sank back to the
mediocre again following last weekend's outstanding triumph at St James' Park.
It was Giggs who supplied the low cross which Darren Fletcher almost turned
home midway through the opening period, and the Welshman also ran with menace
down the left flank when - Wayne Rooney excepted - the remainder of his
team-mates lacked inspiration.
True, Scholes warmed Dean Kiely's hands with a couple of rasping drives - and
Ruud van Nistelrooy failed to get sufficient power behind a second-minute header
when Wes Brown dropped an excellent cross into the Charlton box. But the
visitors were largely unflustered until Giggs latched on to Talal El Karkouri's
poor headed clearance four minutes before the break.
For a moment, it appeared Giggs had delayed too long as he raced into the box
and skipped past Chris Perry. But the luck which United have lacked so far this
season came to their aid as Luke Young got in the way of the eventual shot and
succeeded only in sending it bouncing into the net.
It was just the boost the hosts needed, and there was more to come four
minutes after the re-start as - on his 300th Premiership appearance - Scholes
broke his 20-game scoring drought.
Not since he sent Arsenal tumbling out of the FA Cup last April has Scholes
found the net - and, just like Giggs, the ginger genius has been at the centre
of some fierce criticism as scapegoats have been sought for United's recent
inconsistencies.
Ferguson remains unstinting in his praise, though - and as the former England
midfielder dropped off El Karkouri and angled his body superbly to bulge the net
with an excellent volley from Fletcher's cross, it is easy to understand why the
Scot's loyalty is undiminished.
Scholes nearly created a third with an inspired cushioned header which found
Rooney. The youthful England man rushed his effort, though, and sent it sailing
wide - just as he did shortly afterwards when Fletcher's cross fell to him on
the half volley.
Under intense scrutiny following his regrettable antics on international duty
in midweek, Rooney was a model of decency today - causing referee Rob Styles not
the slightest bit of bother.
The same could not be said for Kiely 15 minutes from time when the 19-year-old
latched on to Alan Smith's flick and unleashed a rasping volley which smashed
into the side-netting with the keeper well beaten.
Rooney had another go shortly before the end. This time, though, his effort
was more wayward - and he was denied the goal his overall play deserved.
Teams
Man Utd Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fortune,
Fletcher (O'Shea 84), Keane (Phil Neville 80), Scholes, Giggs,
Rooney, van Nistelrooy (Smith 76).
Subs Not Used: Howard, Ronaldo.
Goals: Giggs 41, Scholes 50.
Charlton Kiely, Young, Perry (Fortune 45), El Karkouri,
Hreidarsson, Kishishev, Holland, Murphy, Thomas (Konchesky 57),
Bartlett (Jeffers 75), Johansson.
Subs Not Used: Euell, Andersen.
Att: 67,704
Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).
