FERGIE ON GIGGS, SCHOLES AND INJURIES

"When you come to a place like Charlton, you know you're going to get that kind of match. It wasn't an easy game. Charlton really put a lot into that match. They'll be feeling a bit unlucky about it," he said.

"The first half particularly was a real see-saw match. They could have scored two goals, we could have scored a couple ourselves.

"They got a fantastic goal not long before half-time and it pushed us on the back foot because it's a bad position to be in, 1-0 down away from home.

"I thought in the second half, once we had equalised, that we were the better side. But we've had to work really hard for it."

Fergie tempts fate with a certain Welshman.

"(Giggs) was fantastic," he said.

"The great thing about Ryan now is he's staying clear of injury. That's the key to him. I think when a player misses games, he loses his consistency of performance.

"When Ryan stays fit and he plays consistently week in, week out, you get that kind of performance from him.

And the ginger one.

"We put Paul back into centre midfield and there are few players better than him at coming from there.

"He's been training since last Sunday, he's been fantastic.

"I think he's got the craft. He can create the openings for players like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy. He's such a clever little player. He's done fantastic for his first game back."

It wasn't such a happy day for Addicks boss Alan Curbishley although he did have some kind words for United. He said

"You can't write Manchester United off.

"It's not a case of them being on the wane but rather that Liverpool and Arsenal have both improved over the past two to three years. United are still a great side."

On Giggs, who was a constant thorn in Charlton's side, "There's no-one better at destroying defences, he was electrifying."