VIEWS FROM THE PRESS BOX
The 18-year-old Richardson, a late substitute, then met a Solskjaer centre with a diving header to collect a fine first goal for United. Leicester's fate was more familiar than the scorer, their last three Premiership visits to Old Trafford having produced an identical scoreline.
After a day when the talk of United concerned salary caps – surprisingly unavailable in the megastore – this contest had a cloth-cap feel until United brought on Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron for the final, productive push. Sir Alex Ferguson had taken the opportunity to rest them before Saturday's derby at Maine Road, although his starting line-up still contained nine internationals.
The re-jig initially brought Beckham into central midfield, from where he sent Solskjaer clear of a startled Leicester back line after just 20 seconds. A goal seemed certain as the Norwegian shaped to shoot but Frank Sinclair cleared with a textbook sliding challenge.
Leicester, doubtless relieved to be back on dry land after their aquatic adventures at Portsmouth, seldom came off the back foot. Ian Walker enjoyed a charmed life in goal, escaping unpunished after spilling a header by Diego Forlan and shot by Quinton Fortune, respectively. The waif-like Daniel Nardiello also fired across the face of the goal as colleagues slid in a fraction too late.
By sending on a Summerbee – Nicky rather than Mike of Red Devil demonology – the Leicester manager, Micky Adams, enlivened a dour start to the second half. The substitute was roundly booed. Walker made another second-attempt save, from Forlan's angled drive, but Leicester at last came forward, with another ex-City man, Paul Dickov, forcing Roy Carroll into a desperate close-range stop.