Scott steals some of United's thunder

To his right was Paul Scholes, to his left was Roy Keane and in front of him was Nicky Butt. Yet Scott Parker looked very much at home at Old Trafford, where more than 60,000 fans congregated to witness Manchester United take a step towards yet another Premiership title.

Parker's performance summed up why Charlton will be back in the Premiership next year in contrast to their previous one-season flirtation with the high life.

He wasn't fazed and attempts to intimidate him, which included a lunge from Nicky Butt that earned the United player a booking, failed.

"I felt before the game that one or two questions would be asked of our players and we would have to see how we stood up to it," said Charlton manager Alan Curbishley.

"Obviously, Scott Parker was a plus. He was unlucky with a chip that hit the post and he was the one player prepared to get the ball in tight areas and pass it.

"I was just disappointed he couldn't get forward as much as I would like him to do. But he has a lot of potential and this won't do him any harm at all."

Charlton came within eight minutes of holding a United team that now need only six more points to guarantee a third successive Premiership title.

"They made it hard for us," said United manager Alex Ferguson. "They are a good team that play good football. We really had to play well to get those three points."

That United deserved their victory is beyond debate. Four times they hit the woodwork but Charlton refused to wilt. They showed remarkable resilience until the 82nd minute when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - a substitute for the ineffective Dwight Yorke - scored from 18 yards.

Andy Cole - with help from referee Mike Halsey, who played the kind of one-two with the England striker that was missing from Yorke's repertoire all night - put United ahead just before half-time.

But Mark Fish was able to capitalise on defensive uncertainty in the 63rd minute to put Charlton level.

Kemal Izzet, younger brother of Leicester's Turkish international midfielder Muzzy, has signed a permanent deal with Colchester United after impressing during a month's loan spell from Charlton.