MAN UNITED 3 DERBY 1

Yorke, without a domestic goal since Boxing Day, proved he is still a force to be reckoned with in the penalty box to help United to overcome their jitters against one of their bogey teams.

Derby had won three times in their previous six visits to Old Trafford, and they could have taken an instant lead when Malcolm Christie was denied by Mark Bosnich.

Yorke made him pay by drawing first blood instead, as he charged down keeper Mart Poom to claim a simple strike. Poom atoned by saving a penalty from Paul Scholes, soon afterwards, after Gary Neville was felled inside the area.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Scholes had chances to increase United`s lead as the hosts should have put the game beyond Derby`s reach, with David Beckham in effervescent form.

The Rams served notice of their attentions to get back into the game, however, when Mickael Silvestre`s error let in Christie, but again the youngster passed up the opportunity of further enhancing his reputation.

Horacio Carbonari then went close as United were rocked back on their heels and former Manchester City midfielder Giorgi Kinkladze unhinged the home defence again to tee up the equaliser.

Substitute Branko Strupar was on the mark to finish neatly past the recalled Bosnich, following another Belgian, Cedric Roussel`s double strike for Coventry at the splendid stadium last month.

It injected fresh impetus into The Red Devils` play and Yorke soon restored their advantage with a devastating header from Quinton Fortune`s left-wing cross.

Moments later, Yorke ran onto a Roy Keane pass to plunder his hat-trick and kill off Jim Smith`s plucky Rams.