Dowie hails rampant Red Devils

Iain Dowie tried everything in his considerable managerial repertoire to stop Manchester United but merely ended up applauding their magic, just as he did on Sunday.

The new Charlton boss knew he was in for another test of his credentials when he flew to Manchester the day after his side’s opening day Premiership defeat at West Ham and saw United demolish Fulham 5-1.

Dowie devised a game plan that kept United at bay for 49 minutes but once Darren Fletcher fired Alex Ferguson’s team in front, there was no way back.

Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer added late strikes and Dowie said: “They (United) all played very well again and look a match for any side in the country like that.”

His Manchester United counterpart Ferguson insisted: “We have the advantage of Chelsea losing (2-1 at Middlesbrough) but after just two games you can’t talk about winning the league.

“There is no doubt, though, that we have the will to do it and the players to do it and, without question, the spirit in the camp to do it.”