The humiliation forecast by many for Manchester City never materialised although United eventually ran out comfortable winners in this Old Trafford derby.
At times it seemed a lot like cat and mouse football, the home side toying with their neighbours without ever applying the killer bite.
The constant factor in United's control was Roy Keane - the veteran warrior covering every inch of the pitch driving and cajoling his team-mates out of their more complacent moments.
City looked like a side lacking in confidence. When they reduced United's lead to 2-1 early in the second half, they lacked the killer touch to force enough pressure for the equaliser.
They did produce a stirring finale, but by then United were back in control with a two-goal advantage.
United had the perfect start thanks to a typical Paul Scholes goal in the seventh minute.
Keane capitalised on Trevor Sinclair's hesitancy on the edge of the City box to lay the ball back to Gary Neville on the right. Neville fired over the perfect dipping cross into the centre of the box and Scholes produced the most delightful of deft headers to score from ten yards out.
Ryan Giggs fluffed an easy chance for United soon after and City almost forced their way back in to the game in the 25th minute when Robbie Fowler's deflected 25-yard shot forced a fine tip over from Tim Howard.
United increased their lead in the 34th minute.
Joey Barton and Richard Dunne went for the same ball as Gary Neville pumped his effort forward from the back.
Scholes nipped in to feed Giggs, and his cross from the left was met by Ruud van Nistelrooy ghosting in on the blind side of Sylvain Distin to nod home from eight yards.
City were thrown a lifeline seven minutes after the interval.
Shaun Wright-Phillips nut-megged Scholes as he cut in from the right. The young England prospect kept on going past Philip Neville and John O'Shea on the right edge of the penalty area, before beating Howard with a right-foot shot from ten yards.
But City failed to build on the goal and United weathered the temporary blip.
In the 72nd minute, Scholes set up Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose shot from 12 yards was brilliantly tipped onto the post by David Seaman.
Seconds later City were made to pay yet again for not picking up Scholes.
Kleberson crossed from the right and Scholes nipped in between Dunne and Sun Jihai to head in from six yards.
City staged a late revival as Howard produced a point-blank save to keep out a Nicolas Anelka shot and then acrobatically tipped over Steve McManaman's fine 25-yard shot.
Although Howard was beaten in the last minute by Anelka's header it was that man Scholes who popped up again, this time on his own line to boot the ball clear.