Manchester United 1, Birmingham City 0: Colin Tattum's big match verdict
McFadden curled one low shot past the post and, after going behind, Cameron Jerome went close for Blues with a stinging drive and Franck Queudrue’s flashing header was diverted off the goalline by Patrice Evra.
Darren Fletcher missed a sitter for United on the stroke of half-time and when Joe Hart, preferred to Maik Taylor, made good, agile stops from speculative Rooney attempts there was renewed cause for hope.
Fahey let fly with a 25-yarder that was just wide and, at the other end, Blues’ grim determination continued to hold and Lee Carsley headed off the line from Dimitar Berbatov.
That was Carsley’s last act as Blues went 4-4-2 with Benitez alongside Garry O’Connor.
With 12 minutes to go, Benitez raced away on to a lofted pass and almost wrote his name in Blues’ folklore. He cut in, past two sliding challenges, and, with Blues’ fans excitedly expectant and United fearing the worst, Ben Foster came to the rescue by making a superb save, brushing away a shot that was on its way to the far bottom corner.
That could have been the moment for Blues and Chucho; Frank Worthington was the last player to score at Old Trafford, in 1981.
Maybe another time soon for the Ecuadorian, who suggested that he has something to spice up the Blues mix.
Hart thwarted Michael Owen in stoppage time after Rooney’s ingenuity via his chest sent him yards beyond a high defensive line.
Had that gone in, it would have been a deflating end note for battling Blues.
Their diligence and endeavour was good, and the new players assimilated themselves into the team and the pattern.
Roger Johnson showed he was a trade-up on the creaking Radhi Jaidi, Gregory Vignal has the makings of a Julian Dicks/Pat van den Hauwe-lite and Barry Ferguson treated the ball as preciously as a gold ingot.
So it was the usual result at Old Trafford, alas, but Blues weren’t just making up the numbers. Jolly Jack would have approved.
