Man Utd outclass Ipswich

Solskjaer on from the start and on target

Man Utd 4-0 Ipswich

Manchester United's second string team cantered to an impressive victory over Ipswich at Old Trafford.

A double strike from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, plus goals from Ronny Johnsen and Andy Cole erased any lingering concerns about United's priorities this season.

And Sir Alex Ferguson's side brushed off any doubts over their defensive capabilities by keeping a second consecutive clean sheet.

The United boss opted to leave out nine players involved in the 1-0 Champions League win over Lille in midweek.

  Key moments

13 mins: Ronny Johnsen's header just crosses Ipswich goal-line

20 mins: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer extends United's lead

88 mins: Andy Cole slots home a third

90 mins: Solskjaer gets second of the afternoon

David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown and Laurent Blanc were all given the day off.

But their absence was hardly noticed as United ploughed their way through the Ipswich defence in an impressive first-half display.

I thought it was a good scoreline although I don't think it was a 4-0 scoreline

Sir Alex Ferguson

Quinton Fortune took Giggs' place wide on the left and the industrious South African won United a corner.

Solskjaer delivered a teasing cross which Johnsen did well to direct on target.

Ipswich keeper Matteo Sereni appeared to have made an excellent save to deny the Norwegian defender, but the referee's assistant decided the ball had crossed the line.

Cole looked sharp

Seven minutes later Solskjaer extended United's lead, following up after Cole's shot on goal was only parried by Sereni.

Ipswich's Italian keeper did redeem himself midway through the first half, tipping over a fiercely-struck shot by the impressive Fortune.

The Tractor Boys looked out of sorts after their Uefa Cup exertions on Thursday and were limited to one real chance on the United goal.

Just before the interval, Marcus Stewart blazed over from eight yards after some good work by Finidi George.

I'm disappointed with the scoreline, but all credit to Man Utd - they took their chances

Ipswich boss George Burley

An expectant Old Trafford crowd were calling for a repeat of United's 9-0 thrashing of Ipswich in 1995.

And what had looked like being an early autumn harvest materialised in the second half with two more goals courtesy of Solskjaer and Cole late on.

In an attempt to turn things around, George Burley brought on midfielders Martin Reuser and Jermaine Wright, but their impact was limited.

The United defence, which included the recalled David May, thwarted Ipswich's attack - led by Stewart and Alun Armstrong - with ease.

Beckham and son enjoy the show

And May, taken off the transfer list, will have done his first-team chances no harm with a solid display.

The strength of United's squad was exemplified when Ferguson took off influential skipper Roy Keane and brought on £28.1m summer signing Juan Sebastian Veron.

United maintained a tight grip on proceedings, even though Fabien Barthez was forced to make a fine save from Stewart.

But Ipswich simply had no reply to the home side's dominance as United got their Premiership assault firmly back on track.

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Man Utd: Barthez, Phil Neville, May, Johnsen, Silvestre, Chadwick, Butt, Keane, Fortune, Cole, Solskjaer. Subs: Carroll, Gary Neville, van Nistelrooy, Veron, Scholes.

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, McGreal, Bramble, Hreidarsson, Wilnis, Magilton, Holland, George, Armstrong, Stewart. Subs: Branagan, Clapham, Wright, Reuser, Naylor.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).