Jason Euell was the villain as Manchester United bounced back from their blip at Southampton with a battling victory against 10-man Charlton at The Valley. The champions lost their first game of 2003 at St Mary's before the international break - but showed grit and determination rather than their trademark flair to eke out three points in south-east London.
Euell, harshly booked for bumping into Tim Howard at the start of a quite terrible first half, played Ruud van Nistelrooy onside for his 61st-minute strike - and was sent off four minutes later when he earnt a second yellow card by clattering Gary Neville. Despite the gifted Cristiano Ronaldo's promptings for United and Paolo di Canio impressing on his home Charlton debut, chances were at an absolute premium in a contest which was peculiarly low-key until the hour mark. Van Nistelrooy bagged his first when he pounced on a loose ball after a free-kick. He would have been offside had Euell not been standing on his goal line.
The Dutchman's second came with 10 minutes left, when Ryan Giggs' free-kick drifted all the way through to the far post where the Dutchman poked home his and United's second. There was more good news for Sir Alex Ferguson as Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt surprisingly overcame their kidney and ankle problems and appeared to come through this game unscathed. Euell had been booked inside 30 seconds for a clumsy challenge on United goalkeeper Howard.
The game was held up just after the quarter hour for lengthy treatment to Euell after he hurt his face in another collision with Howard. Euell was able to continue, albeit with hefty bandage on his nose, but the disruption only served to further disjoint a game that was spectacular only forits uneventfulness. Ronaldo's bursts up the Red Devils' left flank offered the greatest threat of an opening goal. The home fans occupied themselves booing the Portuguese teenager's every touch after he took a tumble to win a free-kick.
The first genuine moment of excitement came in the 34th minute when di Canio, Euell and Graham Stuart teamed up to create an incisive Addicks counter-attack. However, it foundered when Claus Jensen cut inside from the left and lost possession. United hit back a minute later, with Ronaldo making a mug out of Radostin Kishishev and setting up Ryan Giggs. The Welshman's shot, which may have been going just past there post, was blocked by Jon Fortune. Ronaldo went even closer to scoring on the stroke of half-time, forcing Dean Kiely into a smart stop at the foot of his post. The second half unfortunately offered no improvement, with Ronaldo still infuriating the Addicks faithful with theatrical visits to the turf. The deadlock was finally broken by Ferguson's men with 61 minutes on the clock. Giggs' set-piece shot rebounded to Gary Neville, whose goal-bound attempt smacked into a forest of legs and ended at the feet of van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman, six yards from goal and played onside by Euell, swept the ball into the roof of the net. Euell's day went from bad to worse as he was sent off four minutes later. The striker, booked in the opening seconds, clattered Gary Neville and Riley promptly produced a second yellow card, followed by a red. United had a lucky escape when Ferdinand poked the ball just past his own post in a goalmouth scramble with Howard lying injured. Later Chris Powell blocked van Nistelrooy's close-range effort - but he and the rest of the Addicks back line were powerless to prevent the Dutchman prodding home 10 minutes from time.
Giggs' right-wing free-kick drifted all the way through to the back post, where van Nistelrooy snapped up his and United's second. Substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent a diving header flashing across the face of goal late on.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
