On the day that English football fell silent to mourn the passing of Sir Stanley Matthews, Ryan Giggs produced a display of left-wing wizardry at Selhurst Park of which the legendary knight would have been proud.

Manchester United may have been up against a Wimbledon side determined to prove that the battling qualities instilled in them by Sam Hammam are still there despite the governor official departure from the hot-seat.

They may even have been confronted by a goalkeeper at the peak of his powers, with Neil Sullivan producing a string of superlative saves to deny the visitors time after time.

However, for all of their inadequacies in dealing with high-balls at the back, with the Dons taking the lead twice - first through Jason Euell after just 60 seconds and then through Carl Cort on 62 minutes - through that route, United had Giggs.

With David Beckham restored to the side in central midfield, the visitors lacked width on the right flank, even though Jordi Cruyff managed to score on his first Premiership start of the season to equalise on the half-hour mark.

Yet on the left, Giggs was in mesmerising form, tormenting Wimbledon at every opportunity and having set up Cruyff for his volley, he embarked on a sensational 60-yard run from almost the edge of his own penalty area.

It was reminiscent of his memorable strike against Arsenal in last season's FA Cup semi-final replay yet, this time, Giggs did not finish the move himself but showed the vision to lay the ball sideways to the unmarked figure of Andy Cole.

Cole made no mistake from close range with 10 minutes left and it was only the never-say-die attitude shown by Wimbledon - and especially by Sullivan - that prevented the visitors from securing the winner.

It had all started so differently when Hammam was given a standing ovation before kick-off alongside new chairman Bjorn Rune Gjelsten and then watched his side go ahead after 74 seconds.

Jaap Stam's inability to cope with Kenny Cunningham's delivery from the right flank left Andreas Lund to flick the ball onto Euell, who was steaming through the middle.

Mark Bosnich was left completely exposed and barely moved an inch as Euell volleyed home from close range, although the keeper did manage to save smartly from Lund shortly afterwards.

United were being out-run in midfield even though Beckham, who had recovered from an ankle injury sustained on England duty, was playing in the centre due to Roy Keane and Paul Scholes being suspended.

Beckham, back in the side after being dropped against Leeds last weekend following his training-ground bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson, hardly had a touch of the ball in the early stages.

However, United slowly managed to battle their way back into contention only to find themselves confronted by referee David Elleray for the first time since last May.

On that occasion, Elleray earned the wrath of Ferguson and chairman Martin Edwards for sending off Denis Irwin at Liverpool for kicking the ball away.

And he further angered the visitors when he waved away strong appeals for a penalty when Cunningham's tackle sent Teddy Sheringham sprawling.

The Dons keeper then had to be even sharper to tip a 20-yard shot by Cruyff around the post a few minutes later, only for referee Elleray to mystifyingly award a goal-kick.

However, United were soon level when an inspired through-ball by Giggs, struck with the outside of his left foot, was played into the path of Cruyff as he lost his marker, Alan Kimble. He struck an immensely powerful volley which gave Sullivan no chance.

While Wimbledon were still competing with tenacity, their final ball was far less dangerous than United's - especially when Giggs was involved.

The Welshman fizzed a low cross into the penalty area and Cole was alert enough at the far post to strike a first-time shot goalwards - only for Sullivan to produce a fine diving save to tip the ball around the post.

Cruyff also shot just wide, while Butt struck a 20-yard drive just past the upright yet United were again undone at the back in the air as Cort restored the home side's lead on 62 minutes.

Gayle played the ball back to Kimble, who crossed towards the centre of the penalty area, where Cort twisted himself to flick a header towards the far corner of the net.

The ball was hardly rolling at any great speed yet Bosnich's efforts to scramble his way across his goal represented a cartoon character whose legs frantically rotate in the air without him actually moving.

Still Wimbledon could not rest on their laurels though as Sullivan had to produce an outstanding save to deny Beckham as he curled a 20-yard free-kick towards the top corner.

Giggs then threaded a ball through the middle of the Dons' defence towards Cole, who turned and shot first-time only for Sullivan to save his side yet again with a reaction block with his legs.

But after Cole had headed wide and Bosnich had tipped a fierce shot from Cort around the post, Giggs embarked on that amazing run to set up Cole and United were level again.

In the end, United should probably have won only for Sullivan to match Giggs' outstanding display with more fine saves from Cole and Butt.

But while Wimbledon are renowned for their heart and determination never to give up, United more than matched them in those respects.

Teams:

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Hreidarsson, Andersen, Kimble, Ardley (Andresen 74), Euell, Willmott, Lund (Badir 88), Cort,Gayle.

Subs Not Used: Blackwell, Earle, Davis.

Goals: Euell 1, Cort 62.

Man Utd: Bosnich, G. Neville, Stam, Silvestre, P. Neville (Berg 70), Cruyff (Solskjaer 71), Beckham, Butt, Giggs, Cole, Sheringham.

Subs Not Used: Irwin, Van Der Gouw, Fortune.

Goals: Cruyff 30, Cole 80.

Att: 26,129

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).