United triumph after early scare

Manchester United may still be struggling for top form but their character could not be questioned as Ruud van Nistelrooy came off the bench to inspire them to a spirited comeback at Charlton.

When Claus Jensen had given Charlton the lead just before the break, it had looked as though further question marks would be raised over United’s ability to keep pace with Arsenal.

After all, it was at The Valley that the Gunners had swept convincingly to a 3-0 win a fortnight ago, before increasing the pressure with an accomplished triumph at Elland Road earlier in the day.

However, Paul Scholes made an immediate impression on his early return from injury to draw United level on 53 minutes after a dynamic display.

And then Ryan Giggs clinched victory as he made the most of van Nistelrooy’s unselfish pass after the Dutchman had come on as a second-half substitute.

Van Nistelrooy made sure of victory with a late header and United were able to secure their fourth consecutive win at home and abroad since their back-to-back defeats by Leeds and Bolton.

With van Nistelrooy initially on the bench after his midweek hamstring injury, Ferguson had picked Diego Forlan but then strangely did not play him up front.

Instead, the striker was out on the right, while Scholes returned from knee surgery to fill a roaming brief behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with David Beckham being moved into central midfield.

It was supposed to be a fluid formation but, apart from Scholes, United were largely struggling to find their rhythm in the first-half.

They certainly had their chances, but Solskjaer’s first touch let him down and Scholes was then denied by Richard Rufus’ superb goal-line clearance after a sparkling one-touch move involving Beckham and Giggs.

However Charlton, who had threatened first with Jason Euell smashing a half-volley wide, remained undaunted and started to grow in stature.

Shaun Bartlett, who was making his first start since December after injury, was denied by the outstretched legs of Fabien Barthez and then ballooned the ball over the bar from close range after a knock-down by John Robinson.

Robinson visibly showed his frustration on that occasion but he reacted in the best possible way.

Within two minutes, he set Jensen steaming through the centre and, having dipped his shoulder to create space, the Denmark international unleashed an inch-perfect effort which curled into the top corner.

Beckham’s reaction was rather less exemplary, earning himself a caution for a hot-blooded late tackle on Jensen.

However, the principle danger for Charlton was that while pressing in search of a second goal, they always left themselves open to United hitting them on the break.

And so it proved on 53 minutes as Giggs again opened them up, this time down the left flank, before crossing to Scholes to bury his shot from six yards out.

Ferguson almost immediately brought on van Nistelrooy for Forlan, moving Scholes back into central midfield and Beckham out to the right flank.

Still United were at their most dangerous on the counter-attack, with O’Shea haring down the right flank before crossing for Giggs to flick his header just inches past the far post.

The combination of Giggs and Scholes were at work again soon afterwards, only for Kiely to produce an acrobatic save.

However, Charlton could not keep out United forever.

A long throw-in by Gary Neville was inadvertently flicked inside by Rufus and van Nistelrooy sped away before crossing for Giggs, who was standing unmarked in the area.

The Welshman calmly jinked inside Kiely before slotting his shot into the net and he returned the favour in the last minute to cross for van Nistelrooy to head home United’s third.

And so it was Charlton who were left to lick their wounds, with a fourth consecutive home defeat of the season, while United’s mini-comeback continues.