It wasn't vintage United but a second-half Cristiano Ronaldo strike gave the Reds victory at St. Andrews against a resilient Birmingham City.

Steve Bruce's side arguably created the better chances, but Ronaldo, in his 100th league match for United, was again the match-winner away from home. However, the Reds looked shaky at the back early on, and Sir Alex will be concerned by losing Edwin van der Sar to a toe injury. The Dutchman fell awkwardly after a routine save and was forced off at the break. The United boss made wholesale changes to the side that lost to Coventry in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, with all 11 who started in the Reds' victory over Chelsea returning to action.

Van der Sar, aiming to keep his sixth consecutive clean sheet, was among them, although he wouldn't have expected to be called into action in the first minute, and certainly not after a Paul Scholes error. But the Reds' No.18 was caught in possession, allowing Cameron Jerome to stride towards goal and let fly with a shot that required quick reactions from the goalkeeper. Frank Queudrue was first to meet the resulting corner, and his powerful downward header forced another smart save from van der Sar.

United had come out of the traps sluggishly but not even those early scares jolted the Reds into life. The home side continued to fashion the better chances and went even closer on 18 minutes when Gary McSheffrey's header was cleared off the line by Rio Ferdinand. In truth, the opportunity should never have presented itself. Patrice Evra, under close attention from former Arsenal trainee Sebastian Larsson, was careless in shepherding the ball out of