It was the afternoon when Man United reserves emerged from the shadows into the limelight.
Goals from Nicky Butt, Jose Kleberson and David Bellion - only ten first-team starts between them this season before this game - clinched victory for the Red Devils in their Boxing Day clash with Everton at Old Trafford.
With captain Roy Keane ruled out by a hamstring injury, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson opted to leave Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the bench.
It was a big gamble for Ferguson, but one which came off as only Scholes - a 50th minute substitute for John O'Shea - came on.
United took the lead in the eight minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo threaded the perfect pass down the left to Jose Kleberson on the corner of the Everton box. The Brazilian crossed the ball into the centre and, although David Unsworth headed clear, the ball only went as far as Butt 20 yards out, who returned it with interest when his right foot drive rocketed back into the net.
United's lead lasted only four minutes.
Thomas Gravesen curled a free-kick in from the left towards the near post and United's stand-in captain Gary Neville, under pressure from Kevin Campbell and Wayne Rooney, headed into his own net from eight yards.
United pulled themselves up and stormed back.
Everton keeper Nigel Martyn produce a fine reflex save to tip over Diego Forlan's close-range header from Quinton Fortune's left wing cross, but United had to wait until a minute before the interval for their second goal.
Neville made amends for his earlier error with a glorious cross from the right and Kleberson nipped in between Alan Stubbs and Tony Hibbert to head home from six yards.
United tightened their grip on the game in the second half with Ronaldo leading the Everton defence a merry dance. Kleberson should of done better than head his 65th minute effort over from close range, before Ronaldo played his part in United's third goal two minutes later.
The young Portuguese winger jinked and turned on the left side of the penalty area before crossing for David Bellion to score his first Preimership goal for the club when his right foot shot six yards out found the back of the net.
Everton threw on Francis Jeffers and Duncan Ferguson for the last 27 minutes and Ferguson pulled a goal back at the death when he headed in Kevin Kilbane's left-wing cross from close range at the far post.
But it was too little, too late and United went top of the Premiership.