Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put Manchester United's first-choice strikers in the
shade with 10 stunning minutes as a substitute.
The Norwegian scored four times against Nottingham Forest as Alex Ferguson's
side racked up a Premiership record away victory.
Until Solskjaer's introduction, it had been more of the Dwight Yorke-Andy Cole
show, with a brace of goals from each striker as Forest boss Ron Atkinson was
introduced to the harsh of life at the bottom of the Premiership.
Cole's two goals celebrated not only his England recall, but his recall to the
side too - he had been left on the bench by Ferguson for Wednesday's victory
over Derby.
But back in the starting line-up alongside close friend Yorke, Cole - with
England caretaker-coach Howard Wilkinson believed to be at the City Ground
watching him - proved too hot to handle.
Yorke put United in front inside 85 seconds and after Alan Rogers equalised on
six minutes, Cole, who was born in Nottingham, showed Wilkinson his finishing
power.
First, he restored the visitors' lead straight from the restart after Rogers'
strike, racing onto Jaap Stam's long ball and rounding Dave Beasant before
firing into the empty net from a tight angle.
Then, on 49 minutes and after squandering a hat-trick of chances, Cole
completed his double, running in to drill the ball beneath Beasant after the
Forest keeper had failed to hold onto Yorke's low drive.
Yorke's second came midway through the second half, slotting home into an
empty net after Jon Olav Hjelde had inadvertently diverted Jesper Blomqvist's
low cross onto his own post.
Solskjaer replaced Yorke and an already one-sided game became a rout.
He stabbed home from close range after good work from David Beckham and Gary
Neville for his first, drilled the ball into an empty net for his second and
rounded off his hat-trick in the first minute of stoppage time.
But the 25-year-old was still not finished, and his fourth came in the third
minute of injury time with Forest in complete disarray.
Solskjaer's performance will give Ferguson a blissful dilemma - who to choose.
Yorke has now scored 21 goals this season - including nine in his last six
appearances - and he is looking to be worth every penny of the £12.6million he
cost in August.
The Trinidadian hogged the limelight by scoring the winner in each of the 1-0
defeats of Charlton and Derby in the last seven days, but against Forest it was
first Cole and then Solskjaer who caught the eye.
Cole's blistering pace was too much for Forest, who remain rooted to the
bottom of the Premiership after this defeat - their fourth in five outings.
Sacked England coach Glenn Hoddle accused Cole of wasting chances but, after a
public row during which the striker called Hoddle "a coward", he returned to
the England squad this week.
Recalling Cole was Hoddle's last meaningful act as England coach and if the
27-year-old continues to play as well as he is at present, the former boss' move
will be fully vindicated.
He and Yorke are unstoppable at the moment, scoring 16 goals between them in
United's last seven matches - all of which Alex Ferguson's side have won. And
then there is Solskjaer, the super-sub to beat all super-subs today.
What Forest manager Atkinson, the former United boss, would give for a striker
with half the ability of the three on show for the visitors.
His side tried manfully but they had Beasant to thank for them not being
further behind at the break and after United went 3-1 up, it was a case of how
many more they could score.
Beasant made several fine saves, while Paul Scholes also hit the post and if
the visitors had hit double figures, it would not have been a surprise.
Ferguson's men played so well, the return to Premiership refereeing of Paul
Alcock after a three-month lay-off went off relatively unnoticed.
But it should be noted that he did well, allowing the play to flow as
frequently as possible and showing the yellow card sparingly.
He also got the game back under control quickly in the dying stages as Forest,
who were 5-1 down, started to get frustrated.
It was also quite an introduction for new United assistant manager Steve
McClaren - he could not have wished for a better start to his Old Trafford
career.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Harkes, Rogers, Armstrong (Porfirio 74),
Palmer, Hjelde, Gemmill (Mattsson 57), Johnson, Stone,
Van Hooijdonk, Darcheville (Freedman 25).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Bart-Williams.
Booked: Porfirio.
Goals: Rogers 6.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Johnsen, Stam, P. Neville,
Beckham, Keane (Solskjaer 71), Scholes, Blomqvist (Butt 75),
Cole, Yorke (Curtis 71).
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, May.
Booked: Keane.
Goals: Yorke 2, Cole 7, 49, Yorke 66, Solskjaer 80, 87, 90, 90.
Att: 30,025
Ref: P Alcock (Halstead).
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