Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as has become his trademark over his Old Trafford career, rescued Manchester United yesterday with a goal that ensured that the 1,009th, and possibly final, game of Dave Bassett's managerial career ended in defeat, completing the formalities of Leicester's relegation in the process.
The three points also maintained United's involvement in the contest for the Premiership title, but there was no disguising the fact that this is a team whose priorities have shifted perceptibly in recent days.
This was an underwhelming display by a United line-up badly weakened by injuries - Juan Veron, Roy Keane, David Beckham - and Sir Alex Ferguson's desire to rest others - Fabien Barthez, Ryan Giggs, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ronnie Johnsen - ahead of this week's Champions' League quarter-final return with Deportivo la Coruña.
Given the impressive first-leg advantage United accrued in Spain this week and Ferguson's public 'surrender' of the championship race to Arsenal, the team selection, and lacklustre showing of the players Ferguson did utilise, suggested that the manager's mantra that in any given season the Premiership title is United's first priority no longer holds true. Glasgow, and the Champions League Final on May 15, has become the Holy Grail.
'Hopefully Beckham will be back on Wednesday,' said Ferguson. 'But because of Roy Keane's injury and Paul Scholes' absence on Wednesday I had to give other players a run-out and make sure they were back in tune for such an important match.
'I don't think we particularly deserved to win the game but at this stage of a title race you always get scrappy results away from home and it gives us a chance.'
That should still not excuse the paucity of a United display that was only saved by the introduction, after 50 minutes, of Ruud van Nistelrooy as a substitute. Ferguson then switched to a three-man front line, lessening the influence of his hitherto awful midfield, and Solskjaer then delivered his 22nd goal of the season.
It stemmed from Phil Neville's long throw-in on the hour, one which could have been dealt with by Callum Davidson who, instead, allowed the ball to skim off his head into the path of the Norwegian who turned and deposited it into the goal in one movement.
Solskjaer's tally of 22 goals represents his best ever goalscoring season for the club, and is indicative of the steady consistency he has brought to bear on this most erratic of campaigns.
But the simple fact was that Leicester deserved to have been in front well before that point and given Bassett, who was presented with an award by Ferguson before kick-off for reaching his 1,000-game milestone, a fitting send off.
'Sir Alex turned to me and said, "That's 1,000 games of purgatory isn't it?"' laughed Bassett. Sadly for the outgoing Leicester manager, the ensuing 90 minutes would prove that point.
A United defence handing a rare start at right-back to Dennis Irwin, and a midfield featuring Paul Scholes wide on the right and Phil Neville alongside Nicky Butt in the centre, lacked authority, composure or even the ability to find each other with the ball.
Leicester, in contrast, aimed high and frequently for target man Brian Deane and with the irrepressible Paul Dickov alongside him, deserved some return for their first-half efforts.
After only two minutes, Deane might have had the home side in front, hitting a promising chance directly at Roy Carroll after convincing approach play by Matthew Piper. One of many Deane flick-ons then allowed Dickov to shrug off Gary Neville, his strike only being denied by the keeper's legs, and, just before the interval, Dickov's spectacular flying volley cleared the bar by inches.
The disappointing Diego Forlan hooked a shot over in response, Nicky Butt's shot from the edge of the area was just too high and, moments after Van Nistelrooy's introduction breathed some much-needed urgency into his team, a quick free-kick ended with Paul Scholes shooting narrowly wide.
Seconds later, Deane squandered Leicester's best chance of retaining their Premiership status for at least a few more days, placing a free header over after Piper had sent in the perfect centre.
Inevitably, perhaps, the added weight of Ryan Giggs shifted the momentum even further in the red direction. Before the whistle, Van Nistelrooy, twice, and Scholes planted decent, long-range shots slightly off target. It is to be hoped that whatever side Ferguson manages to field on Wednesday show more efficiency.
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