Ferdinand feels wrath of fans as United put pressure on Arsenal

Charlton Athletic 0 - Manchester United 4

It was supposed to be a day of celebration at The Valley yesterday but Charlton were booed off the pitch, and Rio Ferdinand was booed on it.

Charlton were jeered because they delivered such an abject display, the scoreline flattered them. The away fans turned on Ferdinand because he refuses to sign Manchester United's proffered £100,000-a-week contract. "Rio, Rio, sign the deal," and "Chelsea rent-boy" were the politer chants.

While attitudes appear to be hardening against Ferdinand, Roy Carroll was given another chance by Sir Alex Ferguson. Tim Howard's fumbling display against Newcastle meant Carroll was recalled. He made one sharp save in the second minute from Francis Jeffers but otherwise had little to do.

At the other end Charlton gave a debut to Stephan Andersen, signed for £721,000 from AB Copenhagen last summer. The Dane had feared he would lose his place in the national squad if he remained indefinitely on Charlton's bench. On reflection he may wish he had stayed there. Having survived an early error, he made excellent saves from Alan Smith and Paul Scholes only to spill a slightly deflected shot by Wayne Rooney shortly after the half-hour, Scholes tucking in the rebound.

A goal was inevitable, United dominating the first half so comprehensively it seemed Charlton thought they were holding out for a point at Old Trafford. "We were never in it," their manager Alan Curbishley said. "We're not competing. I've players who are not doing it - it's something we have to address. I'll have to bring in some players who want to be here."

The second goal began with Charlton losing possession cheaply. Rooney skipped down the left and pulled the ball back for Scholes, who teed up Darren Fletcher to sidefoot in from 20 yards.

Charlton briefly ventured out of their half in the second period but were sliced up on the counter-attack. Rooney hit the post after being set up by Smith, then Smith charged down Talal El Karkouri's clearance to score his first goal of 2005. Finally Rooney claimed the goal he deserved after a slick interchange of passes concluding with Kleberson's through ball.

This could have been a wonderful day to be a Charlton fan. The Valley wallowed in nostalgia as awards marking the club's centenary were made to former players such as Sam Bartram and Derek Hales. Perhaps they should have brought their boots. Charlton have been "on the beach" since January, winning just one of a dozen matches since then.

This defeat effectively ended any hopes of a first appearance in Europe. There is the faint prospect of a place through the Fair Play League but even this modest aim was jeopardised with five minutes left when Chris Perry was dismissed for clumsily hauling down Wes Brown.

Goals: Scholes (34) 0-1; Fletcher (44) 0-2; Smith (62) 0-3; Rooney (67) 0-4.

Charlton Athletic (4-1-4-1): Andersen; Young, El Karkouri, Fortune, Konchesky;

Kishishev (Perry, 68); Rommedahl (Euell, 68), Holland, Murphy, Johansson; Jeffers (Lisbie, 56). Substitutes not used: Kiely (gk), Hughes.

Manchester United (4-3-3): Carroll; Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea; Fletcher, Keane (Kleberson, 65), Scholes (P Neville, 64); Rooney (Fortune, 69) Smith, Giggs. Substitutes not used: Howard (gk), Ronaldo.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire). Booked: Manchester United Scholes, Keane. Sent off: Charlton Perry (85).

Man of the match: Rooney.

Attendance: 26,789.