Premiership: Charlton Athletic 1 - 3 Manchester United

A well-earned three points, a hearty sing-song and one hastily painted banner - '12 years of magic' - marked the beginning of life after Keano. The travelling Manchester United fans spent half the match chanting about heroes of old - Roy Keane and Georgie Best were both at the forefront of their minds, but there were also plentiful odes to another old renegade master, Eric Cantona.

So easy to wallow in the past. But what of the present? The future? United have tougher tasks than this on the horizon, but they constructed enough sweet moves and showed enough resilience to confirm the old maxim that no player is ever bigger than any football club. This was an archetypal team performance.

If the idea was to use their triumph over Chelsea as a springboard to bigger and better things, this showed another step in the right direction. More solid at one end, more dangerous at the other, a goal from Alan Smith and two for Ruud van Nistelrooy condemned Charlton to yet another miserable afternoon against their nemesis.

It was good fortune that the fixture list threw up opponents as placid as Charlton at a time when the Keane effect was under scrutiny. Charlton have enjoyed only one win at The Valley this season. This will help United's confidence in time for the crucial visit of Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United, continuing with the 4-4-2 formation that underpinned their rallying call against Chelsea - the formation supposedly unsuited to Keane's ageing legs, and which was so badly missed when Carlos Queiroz fiddled with it - and they looked far more confident. More controlled.

They could have gone ahead in the eighth minute when Van Nistelrooy controlled a high ball and nipped past Stephan Andersen to give himself clear view of an empty net. A golden chance disappeared as Hermann Hreidarsson scurried back to clear off the line.

That was sandwiched between two efforts from the electric Wayne Rooney - one saved, one scooped high. United's movement up front, with Van Nistelrooy, Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo switching and drifting, bewildered Charlton's makeshift defence. Alan Curbishley's men, perhaps not surprisingly considering how much punishment they have experienced against United in the past, showed their visitors a worrying amount of respect.

Once the home team settled, they made a more even contest of it, even if chances were hard to come by. Charlton finally made some headway 20 minutes in, as Darren Bent found space for a shot. It was easy pickings for Edwin van der Sar, though.

Bent had a far better opportunity 11 minutes later when Talal El Karkouri's free-kick ricocheted into his path. The England Under-21 international snatched at it and hooked the ball horribly wide. Charlton could ill afford such wastefulness.

United seized the lead when Rooney's pass across the face of goal was aimed at Darren Fletcher, who slipped but recovered his footing to tap the ball back to Alan Smith. The man who would be Keane arrived with perfect timing from midfield to thump home a shot from 20 yards. United's players huddled in the middle of the pitch in a show of Musketeer spirit.

Van Nistelrooy could have doubled the lead just before half-time but was denied by a fingertip save by Andersen.

United had got themselves in front without breaking sweat and Charlton didn't look capable of making their guests unnecessarily hot under the collar. Darren Ambrose tried to add some fiestiness to their approach with a determined run, which prompted the first real action for Van der Sar. The Dutchman's save from Dennis Rommedahl was first class.

It was Ambrose who equalised, and in fine style. The youngster dribbled towards the box, exchanged passes with Bent and hit home a spectacular curling shot. Five minutes later, United were ahead again. Rooney's marauding run from halfway line to penalty box took out four opponents. His delicate chip was lofted to Van Nistelrooy, whose chest-down and shot on the turn was an example of supreme finishing.

He added to his tally with a long-range lash five minutes from time. Keane could not have found too much here to get angry about.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Wayne Rooney A menace Charlton couldn't handle all match long. Given the freedom to roam and when he is in the mood, Rooney is unplayable. He was in the mood all right. His persistent running and invention created two goals. With Keane gone, United are lucky they have a player still capable of driving them on.