Manchester United took the field at Old Trafford against Leicester
City, to
be greeted by glorious Manchester sunshine. Alex Ferguson named an
unchanged
side from Wednesday's European success, with Jesper Blomqvist still
sidelined with an ankle injury.

David Beckham, who signed a new, 5 year contract with the Reds on
Friday,
took his place in the midfield along with the returning Roy Keane.

Leicester gave a debut to their new club record signing, Frank
Sinclair, who
received a rapturous welcome from the travelling fans.

A vibrant Old Trafford, full to 55,054 capacity, roared the teams onto
the
pitch as the new Premiership season kicked off in style, but at 3
O'Clock,
the fans' hopes and dreams for the coming year began to unravel before
their
eyes.

Emile Heskey beat Jaap Stam for pace as early as the second minute, and
Peter Schmeichel had to be at full stretch to stop the ensuing shot.

The Reds built confidently from the back, but the size of their defence
coupled with the pace of Heskey meant that United were under threat
right
from the start. Only some desperate defending kept the game scoreless.

The almost inevitable goal came after 6 minutes, when an inventive Muzzy
Izzet run down the left flank and into the box set up the powerhouse
Heskey,
who made no mistake with a unchallenged shot from 6 yards into the roof
of
the net. 1-0, and the Reds looked in disarray.

Leicester, bouyed by the goal, continued to push forward, with Heskey
looking ever more menacing.

United old boy Robbie Savage was allowed plenty of room down the left
flank,
and only a late interception from Stam stopped Heskey claiming his
second of
the game. United continued to be stuck in their own half, with Andy Cole
looking stranded up front, and the midfield plain anonymous.

On 26 minutes, United finally found their way into the Leicester box,
but
shot after shot was either scuffed, parried, or wide. The luck was
simply
not with the Reds.

A break came United's way after half an hour, when David Beckham at
last got
a free sight on goal. Kasey Keller produced a great save to deny the
young
midfielder from outside the area. Beckham was once again roundly booed
by
the opposition's supporters.

10 minutes before the break, a thrilling move down the centre of the
park,
started by Johnsen, ended unsurprisingly at the boot of Matt Elliott,
and
when United attacked again, Denis Irwin saw his long range effort clear
the
bar, and end up in the Stretford End.

The second half began with Henning Berg replacing new signing Jaap
Stam, who
did not look injured. Andy Cole had a goal-bound header well saved by
Keller, as United applied the pressure that was missing in the first 45
minutes.

But all too soon, United were on the back foot again, with Schmeichel
having
to go to ground to stop a Savage through-ball to Heskey that would
certainly
have doubled the Foxes' lead.

And two minutes later, Tony Cottee, whose goal settled this fixture last
season, had a snap shot that Schmeichel did well to hold down at his
feet.

Ten minutes into the second period, Beckham came to take a corner in
front
of the Leicester fans. In what will hopefully be a season-long show of
support, the United fans' cheers easily drowned out the abuse emanating
from
the away section.

After a collision in the box, Leicester keeper Kasey Keller was forced
to
leave the field, being replaced by Frenchman Pegguy Arphexad, and
Leicester
began to crumble, as Steve Guppy was booked for a cynical, late tackle
on
Beckham.

United sensed that the time to strike was upon them, and Paul Scholes
let
fly with a screaming shot that narrowly cleared the Leicester crossbar.

But Leicester were not about to lie down, and Heskey almost added to his
goal, when his shot cannoned off a United defender, but squirmed away to
safety.

Early promise quickly waned, and 14 minutes from time, Robbie Savage
made
another damaging run down the left, and crossed to Cottee, who got up
well
to put Leicester 2-0 up. United brought on Sheringham for the last part
of
the match, but by then, it seemed too little, too late.

But United's best chance of the match was still to come. Andy Cole got
around the back of the Leicester defence, but Arphexad did well to palm
the
ball wide.

And from the resulting corner, Beckham put the ball on Sheringham's
head,
Teddy delivered a peach of a header, and United were suddenly back in
it at
2-0, with 10 minutes to play. Sheringham had been on the pitch just 2
minutes.

Leicester were determined to take away all three points, however, and
continued to push forwards. Schmeichel made a stunning double save
before
Heskey attempted an incredibly acrobatic shot, amazingly while
performing a
handstand.

Cottee made way for Wilson as Leicester packed the midfield to quell
United's attacking ambitions. Beckham remained the main hope, and
curled a
beautiful shot just wide of Arphexad's far post.

And it was David Beckham who made all the waiting worthwhile deep into
injury time with a perfect freekick that bent away from Arphexad. The
midfielder did what he will have to do all season - answer the critics
his
way. United snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat, and deserved the
point
for the way they worked hard when luck was against them.

Two points lost at the start of the season is by no means a
catastrophe, but
nor is it the ideal way to start a title campaign. More ideas and more
width
will be needed at Upton Park next Saturday, if the Reds are to mount any
sort of challenge for the Premiership.

Venue:   Old Trafford

6 mins  Opposition Goal
45 mins  Man United Substitution: Henning Berg for Jaap Stam
76 mins  Opposition Goal
78 mins  Man United Substitution: Teddy Sheringham for Gary Neville
80 mins  Man United Goal - Scorer: Teddy Sheringham
90 mins  Man United Goal - Scorer: David Beckham