BY KEVIN McCARRA ( The Times )

WITH the loss of Ryan Giggs, who is now expected to miss the first leg of the European Cup quarter-final, Manchester United suffered a casualty on a night when they had expected to make sacrifices only of their own choosing.

Having divided a partnership, United kept their championship ambitions intact when Dwight Yorke scored the winner in the second half against Derby County at Old Trafford, so putting his side four points ahead in the FA Carling Premiership.

The forward, who had performed a similar feat to conjure victory against Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Sunday, ransacked the opposition last night while lacking his usual accomplice, Andy Cole.

Giggs had to be replaced after ten minutes and Alex Ferguson, the United manager, emerged afterwards to say: "He is very doubtful for the Internazionale game on March 3. Ryan has done his hamstring again and these injuries can take several weeks, especially in his case.

"It's amazing to recall that the same thing happened last year and against the same opponents at the same time of the year."

Squad rotation can make a man's head spin. Cole had all too much time to savour his recall to the England party, for the match with France, because United felt free to dispense with his services against Derby.

His exclusion was termed a rest by Ferguson, and could be regarded as a prompt for the usual burbling about his club's resources.

Even so, Cole will also have reflected that he was insipid in the 1-0 win at The Valley. Laying claim to a place in the side is a task that must be started anew every week. Cole had the sort of company on the substitutes' bench that would have allowed for a distinguished dialogue on the topic, with David Beckham also being kept in reserve.

This, all the same, was not the sort of match at Old Trafford in which the opposition could be obliterated by whatever set of bodies happened to be filling the red jerseys. Ferguson's side did look depleted, the more so when Giggs left the field. The visitors had brought a tiered formation, but, as in an earthquake-hit building, the floors crashed down on top of one another.

Darryl Powell, initially striving to operate behind the attack, found himself covering in front of the defence. Kevin Harper, intending to play on the right of the forward line, had to serve as assistant full back. All of that compression only irked United, whose attempts to make progress were as trying as an effort to drill through rubble.

It was indicative of the play that Jaap Stam, standing aloof, came closest to providing incisiveness when he hit a 30-yarder, in the fifth minute, that had to be parried by Russell Hoult, the Derby goalkeeper. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, inheritor of Cole's role, had garnered 11 goals this season, despite starting only ten games, but his presence from the beginning of the match was a reminder of the arduousness of full involvement.

He was eager to apply himself, though, and Hoult, after 36 minutes, had to palm the ball over the bar after Paul Scholes had forced the Norwegian's cross against Spencer Prior. The Derby defender was one of three centre backs, including the splendid Horacio Carbonari, who took much of the credit for United's frustrations. Jim Smith's side could have added to the consternation with a goal, but Paulo Wanchope was sluggish in gathering possession after Harper had located him and he was harassed into shooting wide.

The notion, on United's part, that something is bound to turn up in the end, is not woolly-minded. Talent told. After 65 minutes, they took the lead with a simple yet deft move. Nicky Butt met a bouncing ball with a dabbed touch that took it onto Yorke and he controlled it with his chest before guiding a low finish into the net.

With an advantage at last, United allowed themselves recreation. Traces of fun were evident in moves that caused mayhem in the goalmouth and, on one occasion, left Solskjaer to hit a shot that was blocked desperately. For a moment, it also appeared inevitable that Yorke would reach his twentieth goal of the season. He was defied only when his header, after Blomqvist's vigorous run, was saved by Hoult in the 85th minute.

On a night when Ferguson was conserving his squad's strength, United retained just enough power to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership. Having persuaded Derby to bring this game forward from its scheduled date at Easter, which was perilously close to a possible European Cup semi-final fixture, the manager has also stolen a march on his rivals.

Manchester United (4-4-2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, J Stam, R Johnsen, D Irwin - P Scholes, R Keane, N Butt, R Giggs (sub: J Blomqvist, 10min) - O G Solskjaer, D Yorke.

Derby County (3-4-1-2): R Hoult - S Prior, H Carbonari, I Stimac - J Laursen, L Bohinen, L Carsley, A Dorigo - D Powell (sub: J Hunt, 80) - P Wanchope, K Harper (sub: D Burton, 71).

Referee: S Lodge.

Attendance: 55,174.