Man Utd	2 - 0	Charlton
Scorers Park 24 Fletcher 82	Half Time ( 1 - 0 )	Booked Diawara 33

Manchester United overcame a stubborn Charlton side at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Ji-Sung Park and Darren Fletcher. The hosts were never at their best and much credit should go to Alan Pardew’s side who battled bravely against a United side that were rather fortunate to win by a two goal margin.

Park put United ahead after 24 minutes with an opportunist header following an Evra cross but the Red Devils took until the 82nd minute to wrap the game up as Rooney set up Fletcher to head home the winner from six yards.

It could have been so different had Charlton taken their chances of which there were rather more than they might have expected.

United started brightly and Park saw his rasping effort wonderfully saved by the impressive Scott Carson. The on-loan Charlton ‘keeper has been in great form this season and his performance would have done his England chances no harm whatsoever.

Deprived of the talent of Cristiano Ronaldo due to a cold, United failed to express the same attacking ruthlessness that was so evident at White Hart Lane last weekend. However, the hosts shrugged off that disappointment to take the lead on 24 minutes as Evra’s looping cross was headed home by the umarked Park who ghosted in behind the Charlton defence.

That goal shocked the visitors who had more than held their own up to that point with Ambrose coming within inches of heading Charlton in-front with Kuszczak grasping at thin air whilst Dennis Rommedahl also went close with a rasping effort that rippled the side netting.

United came close to adding a second through Rooney after some sublime skill from the England striker allowed him the chance to prod the ball towards goal but Charlton were fortunate to see the strike slide past the far post.

The second half saw Charlton pinned back inside their own half with United going in search of a second goal. Louis Saha should have put the game beyond doubt when Rooney’s through ball picked him out but the Frenchman could only scuff his effort straight at Carson.

That miss could have proved costly towards the end as Charlton came within a whisker of grabbing an equaliser as Gary Neville’s back header came close to sneaking inside the far post after a curling free-kick from the Charlton right hand side.

It was a heart in mouth moment for the hosts but any fears that they might have had were put to bed with eight minutes of the contest remaining.

Wayne Rooney was at the centre of the move once again as his superb skill afforded him an opportunity to shoot at goal and although Carson blocked the ball well with his legs, Rooney regained control of the ball to cross for Fletcher to head home from close-range.

That goal sealed the victory and keeps United six points clear at the summit. Charlton meanwhile will take plenty of encouragement from this display and will now head to Spain for some sunshine and a break before resuming Premiership duties in the near future.


Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs (Larsson 63), Park, Rooney, Saha (Richardson 81).

Subs Not Used: Heaton, Brown, Silvestre.

Charlton: Carson, Sankofa, Bougherra, Diawara, Thatcher, Rommedahl, Song Billong, Holland (Hughes 73), Faye (Zheng 40), Ambrose (Lisbie 73), Marcus Bent.

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Hasselbaink.

Att: 75,883

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

By James Masters