UNITED 3 CHARLTON 1

There were few of them to take for almost an hour as United struggled to make the most of a tactical alignment that had Forlan in a new role on the right of midfield, with a subdued David Beckham inside him. Scholes, used up front, must have thought he had scored in the 17th minute, knocking Giggs's lovely touch towards an empty net, only to see Richard Rufus slide in and hack it away for a corner.

Within nine minutes of the resumption, Luke Young, never the tightest defender, allowed Giggs to escape down the left and Scholes adjusted his body perfectly to turn in the resulting cross.

Now Van Nistelrooy appeared, in place of the ineffective Forlan, and for the first time the visitors took control. Giggs might twice have put them ahead, glancing a cross by John O'Shea past the far post and then requiring Dean Kiely to save smartly after taking a pass from Scholes.

The second goal had innocuous beginnings, with a throw-in on United's right, which suddenly became a threat as two Charlton defenders went for the same ball and Van Nistelrooy sprinted clear. Giggs was unmarked as the covering defender came across and was able to dummy Kiely before tapping in. If that was a little hard on the home team, even though they had not been able to create any chances in the second half, a third goal in stoppage time, headed in by Van Nistelrooy from Giggs's centre, was crueller.

The Observer's view

For Manchester United, for all the challengers to the present champions, this is a time simply to stay in the hunt until they find fully their own form and Arsenal experience a stumble in their remarkable fluency. United, initially tentative but gradually more convincing, can thus be pleased with their efforts here.

For 45 minutes they laboured, conceding a lead to a spirited, aggressive Charlton Athletic team, but they regrouped after the break to run out comfortable winners, courtesy of an inspiring performance by the crafty Paul Scholes on his return from injury.

Ferguson seems determined to convince Scholes that he is United's new Cantona, despite the player's own doubts, and deployed him just behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. David Beckham got the chance, in front of the watching Sven-Göran Eriksson, to play in central midfield, with Diego Forlan given the England captain's usual job wide on the right. Charlton, meanwhile, gave a debut to Robbie Mustoe, recently out of contract at Middlesbrough.

Both starting line-ups have been short of goals and a consistent goalscorer in the Premiership. Charlton's six previously had come from different scorers. United entered the match not having scored in open play for seven-and-a-half hours, the two in the previous four matches coming via Van Nistelrooy from the penalty spot.

United, in some disarray, needed the break and the usual comforting words from Ferguson had quick effect, the equaliser soon coming. Rufus and Luke Young made the mistake of both going up for Barthez's long clearance and when Solskjaer won it, Giggs was left free to run on to the flick. Scholes timed his run perfectly to turn home the low cross.

A second goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived, courtesy of another Charlton defensivemisjudgment. Rufus rose to head substitute Gary Neville's throw-in but succeeded only in flicking it on to Van Nistelrooy, left in the clear. His square pass found Giggs unmarked and he steadied himself before eluding Kiely and tapping home.

The sealing goal came in the final minute, with Charlton pressing forward, losing possession in United's defensive third. On the break, Giggs raced clear on the right and looped a perfect cross for Van Nistelrooy at the far post to guide home an unchallenged header.