Manchester United 3 Birmingham City 0
Without question, Birmingham City restored their tarnished reputation with this performance at Old Trafford.
However, whether they offered enough to suggest relegation can be avoided is open to debate.
A 3-0 defeat wasn't wholly unexpected but Birmingham's second-half performance will allow Steve Bruce to draw solace after a draining week.
When Ryan Giggs curled an exquisite free kick past Maik Taylor inside three minutes there was an air of trepidation amongst Birmingham players and supporters alike.
Any repetition of the 7-0 defeat against Liverpool would have been unbearable and the Carling Cup holders threatened to cut loose during a nervous first half for Steve Bruce's side.
If Wayne Rooney had worn his shooting boots in the first period the scoreline could conceivably have been 4-0 at the break.
The fact it was only 2-0 courtesy of a second Giggs strike was due to profligate finishing from the hosts.
Gallows humour was rife amongst the visiting supporters with chants of "we're going to win 3-2," but a standing ovation for Bruce amongst Manchester United fans as he reappeared for the second half lifted the black clouds gathering above his head.
Sections of the away support joined in and their unequivocal backing was rewarded with a polished second-half showing that could have garnered some tangible reward.
After realising they weren't there just to celebrate Gary Neville's 500th appearance for the hosts; Birmingham enjoyed decent periods of possession.
In fact, if Emile Heskey hadn't inexplicably ballooned a golden opportunity to score from ten yards out with eight minutes remaining, it could have been an unconfortable ending for Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
However, within the blink of an eye, Rooney had taken advantage of a Martin Latka mistake and sealed a comprehensive victory.
The auguries were not good for Birmingham prior to kick off as one had to delve back into 1981 to find the last time they gleaned a point at Old Trafford.
Kevin Dillon and Trevor Francis were on target in a 2-1 victory back in 1978, but it has been purgatory ever since.
Everyone had arrived at the Theatre of Dreams expecting a massacre and television chiefs were rubbing their hands in glee at the expected goal avalanche.
United's matchday programme got in on the act as they recalled a 9-0 Premiesrhip victory over Ipswich 11 years ago.
Even the bookmakers had written off Bruce's falering side and odds of 14/1 on a Birmingham victory proved just how far their stock has fallen in recent weeks.
Bruce had decreed that a siege mentality was the best plan for his battered and bruised team, who have now won only one of their last seven Premiership fixtures.
Martin Taylor was chief scapegoat for their heaviest ever home defeat in midweek with Martin Latka recalled to partner Kenny Cunningham at the heart of the defence.
Jiri Jarosik, DJ Campbell, Emile Heskey and Stan Lazaridis were all drafted back into the equation by Bruce and he adopted a 4-5-1 formation to try and stifle their in-form opponents.
However, his best-laid plans went up in flames after a Latka foul presented Giggs with an opportunity inside three minutes.
His free-kick was palmed on to the post by Maik Taylor, but the ball rebounded off his head and into an empty net.
A Heskey header and Campbell shot provided fleeting moments of optimism for Bruce but when Giggs played a sweet wall-pass with Rooney to leave Damien Johnson trailing in his wake and slotted past Taylor, the roof threatened to cave in.
With 75 minutes still remaining there were sharp intakes of breath on Birmingham's bench and a sense of foreboding.
Rooney was rampant and leading Latka a merry dance, leading to two gilt-edged opportunites inside a minute.
Thankfully for Blues he dragged his shot wide on both occasions, but the Premier-ship's record crowd - and U nited's biggest since 1920 - were expectant as Mike Dean blew his half-time whistle.
Birmingham emerged belatedly for the second half and Bruce was applauded to his seat by home supporters, which seemed to galvanise his troops.
A Stephen Clemence free-kick was deflected just wide and Brimingham traded blows with their more illustrious hosts, which almost caused widespread panic when Jarosik served up an easy chance for Heskey.
His miss was predictbly met with a swift response and goal the other end, but the visitors continued to strive manfully all to no avail.
Another corner saw both Heskey and Latka denied during an almighty goal line scramble before Clemence's effort was bravely blocked by van der Sar.
Birmingham's supporters once again revelled in their own misery with taunts of "Liverpool are better than you," to the home fans.
This drew laughter from all sides of Old Trafford, but Bruce knows it could all turn sour if they can't solve their problems in either penalty area.
Yes, this was better fare than was served up against Liverpool. But their inability to score and generosity could be a recipe for relegation unless it is rectified soon.
