Their main ploy was the ball into the channels which might exploit Radzinski’s pace.It never worked better than in the 10th minute. Gemmill, who moments earlier had forced Fabien Barthez into an unorthodox save with a 25-yard drive, released Radzinski for a run which ended with Laurent Blanc almost diverting the Canadian’s pass into his own net. When United failed to clear the corner, Unsworth dragged a free shot wide from only six yards.United carried less threat than their recent form suggested until the arrival of Beckham and Veron’s switch infield signalled an increase in the tempo during the final half-hour. Mikael Silvestre had headed over when well placed, while a Giggs centre coaxed only a scuffed shot on the turn from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer which Steve Simonsen saved.Van Nistelrooy was adamant that Abel Xavier’s fingers got the faintest of touches as the Dutchman sought to head in a Giggs cross before half-time. Then, midway through the second half, a Gemmill volley struck Gary Neville on the arm. On each occasion, Uriah Rennie called the situation correctly.Everton’s resistance finally ended when Beckham flighted a ball from the right that was just too far for Simonsen to consider coming for but which Giggs soared to glance home like an old-style centre-forward.The second goal started with a Fabien Barthez throw being headed on by Solskjaer for Giggs to run at Gary Naysmith.

The Welshman’s cross was allowed to reach the far post, where Van Nistelrooy’s first-time shot brought his 17th goal in 21 starts.Everton (4-4-2): Simonsen 6; Watson 6, Xavier 7, Weir 7, Naysmith 6; Alexandersson 5 (Gascoigne, 82), Gemmill 7, Unsworth 6, Blomqvist 5 (Ferguson 4, 73); Gravesen (Moore 4, 8), Radzinski 5. Substitutes not used: Tal, Gerrard (gk).Manchester United (4-4-2): Barthez 6; P Neville 6, Blanc 5, G Neville 6, Silvestre 5; Veron 7, Keane 6, Butt 5 (Beckham 7, 56), Giggs 7; Van Nistelrooy 6, Solskjaer 5. Substitutes not used: Irwin, Yorke, Wallwork, Carroll (gk).Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield) 7.. Urgings of the public address announcer notwithstanding, the celebratory chants after the final whistle at Portman Road were muted. They know their football in East Anglia and for all that Ipswich Town had just registered their second win in three days to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premiership, both players and supporters were fully aware they will have to play an awful lot better than this to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

They get bloody good money and they’ve got to earn it,” said Bassett, his face tight with anger.He said he had told the players as much to their faces. “If they’re mentally weak they won’t be able to take it and they won’t play for me and there’ll be a players’ strike.” The old ham in the man then prompted him to pause before adding; “I hope,” but he meant every word.The next Leicester training session should be fun.Out on the pitch the first half was truly desperate. The only talking point was whether the referee Neale Barry should have given a penalty after the ball hit Jordan Stewart’s hand as he tackled Martijn Reuser.Shortly after the break the Leicester striker Jamie Scowcroft missed an absolute sitter, a free header in the centre of the goal from seven yards. Two minutes later the full-back Lee Marshall dawdled idiotically in his own half and was robbed by Reuser, whose cross was headed in by Marcus Bent for his first goal for Ipswich. Soon afterwards Stefan Oakes lost Sixto Peralta’s run from midfield, and the Argentinian finished from an angle after being picked out by Reuser.Thereafter Ipswich started to knock the ball about quite nicely, though without looking likely to add to their brace. “All to play for now,” said their manager George Burley, and with top scorer Marcus Stewart expected to return against Charlton on New Year’s Day, his side have at least cause for hope.Unlike Leicester, it seems.