Euell the villain as Man Utd bounce back

Charlton 0, Manchester United 2

Jason Euell was the villain as Manchester United bounced back from their blip at Southampton with a battling 2-0 victory against 10-man Charlton at The Valley today.

The Premiership champions lost their first game of 2003 at St Mary’s before the international break – but showed grit and determination rather than their trademark flair to eke out three points in south-east London.

Butt curled the ball a yard over the angle of post and bar in the 79th minute.

Chris Powell blocked van Nistelrooy’s close-range effort – but he and the rest of the Addicks back line were powerless to prevent the Dutchman prodding home 10 minutes from time.

Giggs’ right-wing free-kick drifted all the way through to the back post, where van Nistelrooy snapped up his and United’s second.

Substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent a diving header flashing across the face of goal late on.