WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Utd left it till late to secure this one but they're 'never-say-die' attitude won through in the end. Great header from Yorke to put the expected three points in the bag."

MATCH REPORT

By Matt Barlow, PA Sport

A last-minute header from Dwight Yorke made it a happy belated return to The Valley for Manchester United today. Alex Ferguson's title chase received the boost of a late victory in United's first trip to Charlton's famous home in nearly 42 years.

Yorke pounced for his 18th goal of the season just when Alan Curbishley's struggling Addicks looked to have hung on for a crucial point towards their relegation dogfight.

Charlton battled every step of the way in search of their first win in 12 Premiership games. But there was no way back once substitute Paul Scholes crossed for Yorke on the back post to nod the ball past the despairing dive of Simon Royce.

In their last game, Charlton enjoyed a last-minute equaliser to earn a point against Newcastle to end a run of eight straight defeats. This time, though, the last-gasp goal at the Valley was not so welcome as the Reds flexed their Premiership muscles.

Charlton had started confidently in a game which took time to wake from its Sunday slumbers. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession in midfield, but the goalkeepers did not have to earn their corn until the last 10 minutes of the first half. First Charlton's Royce saved well from Ryan Giggs and then reacted well to turn a Denis Irwin cross behind after more good play on the left by Giggs.

Nicky Butt whistled a long-range drive a foot wide of the post, and Royce leapt to his left to tip a vicious Giggs volley round the post.

The Addicks produced some neat pockets of football, but goal attempts were limited. Mark Kinsella dragged a 25-yard effort wide, and referee Gary Willard turned down two penalty appeals in first-half stoppage time. The first came when Martin Pringle collapsed under a Henning Berg challenge as the pair battled for a John Robinson cross.

Then moments later Willard was alert to spot Peter Schmeichel had got a hand to the ball as he raced from his line to beat Kinsella to a long pass.

The big Dane was less convincing when he made a hash of the resultant corner. He flapped at Kinsella's kick and watched thankfully as Neil Redfearn smashed the loose ball over the bar from 12 yards. Andy Hunt chose to go it alone after the break when he had team-mates well placed in front of goal. He had been found by a clever Redfearn pass and made a yard for a shot that lacked power, and Schmeichel saved.

The experienced United goalkeeper plucked a good chance from Hunt's head moments later as the Addicks striker shaped to finish a sweeping move.

Redfearn found Robinson, whose deep cross was headed back into the danger zone by Pringle, but Schmeichel read the situation and dispelled any threat.

Curbishley's men had to soak up a lot of second-half pressure as United turned up the heat in search of a winner. Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Giggs all crashed shots over, and Royce survived under a barrage of corners and crosses. Then Butt poked a shot horribly wide after linking up sweetly with Andy Cole inside the area.

The pressure built up, and finally the Addicks defence snapped. Scholes collected a ball on the right and turned his cross to Yorke who leapt high to head home off the foot of the post.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Alex Ferguson saluted his players' never-say-die attitude as Manchester United moved into pole position in the race for the Premiership. Dwight Yorke's last-minute strike, his 18th goal of the season, sealed a 1-0 win for United and left Ferguson bracing himself for a title chase with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

He said: "It's tight at the top and it's been that way for a few weeks. Chelsea, Arsenal and ourselves will definitely be there at the end. Villa are having a rocky spell but everybody gets them and they could still bounce back. By the end of March it could be the usual two-horse race."

Ferguson said his team had shown the crucial ability to grind out results like the 1-0 win at The Valley which puts United a point clear at the top of the Premiership.

Ferguson said: "It's a quality of the team. We kept going and persevered and Dwight can score as can Andy Cole. We've got finishers in the team. That's always good to have. If you're top of the League that tells you you're doing something right. We're doing a lot right at the moment. We've been playing very well, working hard everywhere on the pitch. They're working hard to get the ball back when they haven't got it. The movement is very good and you get rewards from that."

Substitute Paul Scholes carved out the chance for Yorke to score. The England midfielder turned a cross to the back post where Yorke had wriggled free of his marker to head home. It was a cruel blow for struggling Charlton, who have now gone 13 Premiership games without a win, and boss Alan Curbishley was disappointed after seeing his team lose yet again by a single goal to one of the strongest teams in the country.

He said: "The players gave everything they've got. I was disappointed with the last 20 minutes because up until then we gave as good as we got."

TEAMS

Charlton Athletic: Royce, Powell, Redfearn, Rufus, Kinsella, Hunt, Robinson, Brown, Jones, Tiler, Pringle.
Subs: Bright for Hunt, Parker for Pringle

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Irwin, Stam, Berg, Beckham, Butt, Giggs, Keane, Yorke, Cole.
Subs: Solskjaer for Beckham, Scholes for Butt
Scorers: Yorke (89)

Referee: G Willard