4-3-3
JUSSI JAASKELAINEN ... 9
Three late saves denied United an equaliser they worked hard to get
ANTHONY BARNESS ... 8
Singled out for praise by Allardyce for keeping Giggs quiet
GUDNI BERGSSON ... 9
Cultured, composed and commanding at the heart of a magnificent defence
MIKE WHITLOW ... 9
Inspiring with his determination and energy; countless interventions and interceptions
SIMON CHARLTON ... 8
"So you're David Beckham ... that don't impress me much"
PER FRANDSEN ... 9
In the best of company, he produced one of his best performances
KEVIN NOLAN ... 8
Worked hard, took his chance when it came and - hey presto! - another big scalp
RICARDO GARDNER ... 8
Wayward early passes but warmed to the challenge and made key contributions
HENRIK PEDERSEN ... 8
Should have scored first half; deserved a goal for all the effort he put in
MICHAEL RICKETTS ... 9
Battled Ferdinand more than once; a happy return to the scene of a past triumph
YOURI DJORKAEFF ... 8
Exceptional skill at times but this performance was more about effort and endeavor
Subs: Paul Warhurst for Djorkaeff 72 mins, Dean Holdsworth for Frandsen 87 mins, Ivan Campo for Pedersen 90 mins. Not used: Jonathan Walters, Kevin Poole.
UNITED
4-4-2
FABIEN BARTHEZ ... 7
PHIL NEVILLE ... 7
RIO FERDINAND ... 8
LARENT BLANC ... 7
MIKAEL SILVESTRE ... 7
DAVID BECKHAM ... 7
NICKY BUTT ... 9
JUAN VERON ... 8
RYAN GIGGS ... 7
OLE SOLSKJAER ... 8
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY ... 8
Subs: Diego Forlan for Veron 76 mins. Not used: Ricardo, Michael Stewart, John O'Shea, Luke Chadwick.
Referee: Graham Barber (Herts).
Attendance: 67,623.
Goal: Nolan 77 mins.
Shots/headers on target: United 7, Wanderers 5.
Corners: United 8, Wanderers 6.
Offsides: United 1, Wanderers 1.
Fouls committed: United 9, Wanderers 12.
Bookings: United - Neville 75 mins (foul on Gardner); Wanderers - Nolan 54 mins (dissent), Holdsworth 93 mins (foul on Beckham).
MAN OF THE MATCH
GUDNI
BERGSSON
DISPLAYS such as this make it obvious why he could not retire in the summer. Bergsson has too much to offer the Premiership to be thinking of quitting.
MAGIC MOMENT
IT only took a slight loss of control by Beckham and Nolan spied his chance. As the left-footer crept just inside the foot of the post, 2,800 Wanderers' fans raised the Old Trafford roof.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
THE interviewer's suggestion to Sam Allardyce that United had been "weakened" by the loss of Keane and Scholes. Can a midfield of Beckham, Veron, Butt and Giggs be described as depleted?
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