It could have been ordered by Rupert Murdoch. Manchester United need a
diversion from the unpleasantness of the last few days and the team duly
supplied it. For one evening, at least, the bitterness that has surrounded
the takeover of the club by BSkyB slipped into the background.

With some style too. After Charlton, who had arrived at Old Trafford
undefeated, had taken a surprise lead through Mark Kinsella, United swept
the newly promoted Londoners aside to gain their first win in the
Premiership this season. Dwight Yorke scored twice, his first goalssince
his transfer from Aston Villa, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also got a
couple.

To say the least, the atmosphere was strange. Posters outside Old Trafford
had been defaced with anti-takeover grafitti, and members of the
Independent Manchester United Supporters Association distributed leaflets
condemning the alliance that has been painted as unholy and unnecessary.

Inside the ground, chants competed with each other to hit new heights of
anger. Except, initially, they were not from the United fans. The words
"Sack the Board" rang out, but they were used with heavy irony by the
Charlton supporters.

"I've never been that popular," United's Martin Edwards had admitted at a
press conference in the North Stand earlier, but even he must have been
taken aback by the lack of vitriol. "Stand up if you love Man U" is not the
sort of thing that sparked the Russian Revolution and it took a full 15
minutes for the first insult to be hurled.

Even so, in the climate of corporate change, the home debut of Dwight
Yorke, at £12.5m the second highest transfer between two British clubs, not
to mention Jesper Blomqvist's first appearance, were forgotten statistics,
as relevant as Alex Ferguson's programme notes which waxed about a
mid-season break.

Nevertheless there were surprises in the United team, not least the
omission of Ryan Giggs, who had played for Wales on Saturday against Italy
but was not fit last night. After years of the opposite, there were
probably wry smiles in the Principality.

There were definitely worried frowns on the United bench when Kinsella was
allowed to tee himself up after 40 seconds and then unleash a fierce drive
at Peter Schmeichel that the goalkeeper stopped but dropped as if the
ball was red hot.

The crowd had come to watch a red uprising, however, and they were nearly
satisfied after two minutes when Solskjaer's shot was blocked and Ronny
Johnsen's header from the resultant corner momentarily suggested it
would beat Sasa Ilic.

Eight minutes later, the Charlton goalkeeper could do nothing as Yorke's
quick feet and quicker thinking laid the ball into Paul Scholes' path. The
England midfielder was beyond the visiting rearguard in a flash but his
shot flew wide.

David Beckham was thriving on the right and it was from his flank that
United created two ripe chances, Solskjaer heading against Ilic after 23
minutes and Yorke flicking over when he dived to meet a cross six
minutes later.

A goal seemed certain to come and it did, only it arrived in the United
net. Just as in the opening seconds, Kinsella was allowed too much licence
after 31 minutes and this time his shot beat Schmeichel, a deflection
wrong-footing the Dane.

The surprise was profound but it was overcome within seven minutes.
Solskjaer played a wall pass with Yorke that hit the club's record signing
rather than come off him in the prescribed manner. No matter, the Norwegian
cracked the rebound into the corner.

Once prised apart the Charlton defence, which had an unblemished record
before last night, was susceptible and United's second and third goals
arrived just before and two minutes after the interval.

Beckham's lack of pace does not always allow him to reach the places that
hurt on the flank, which is a pity because he is possibly the best crosser
in the Premiership. Foul him near to the area and you invite problems,
which he duly delivered with a delightful chip and Yorke, his pace
taking him ahead of his marker, headed in.

Beckham also played a prominent part in the next goal, delivering low and
hard after Scholes had located him with a glorious pass. Solskjaer arrived
at the near post, getting a touch, and Yorke was behind him to apply the finish.

After 62 minutes it was threatening to be a rout. Henning Berg, brought on
as substitute for the injured Denis Irwin, crossed from the right and
Solskjaer scored with a diving header. After a torrid few days, the sense
of crisis was lifting.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; P Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin
(Berg, 57); Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Blomqvist; Yorke (Sheringham, 67),
Solskjaer (Cole, 67). Substitutes not used: Wilson, Van der Gouw (gk).

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2) Ilic; Mills, Brown, Youds, Powell; Newton
(Mortimer, 55), Kinsella (K Jones, 75), Redfearn, Robinson; Mendonca (S
Jones, 70), Hunt. Substitutes not used: Balmer, Petterson (gk).

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset).