Beckham and Scholes look far from jaded

In return for plugging his new computer game on Saturday morning, Sven Goran Eriksson gave the press a back-page lead. The schedule of the English game, he said, was exhausting his players. A few hours later, at Upton Park, he watched as David Beckham and Paul Scholes tore holes in this theory as big as the ones they made in West Ham's defence.

Teddy Sheringham may be off form, but he is 36 next month and will only be used as a bench player in the World Cup anyway. Beckham and Scholes, both nine years younger, look as fresh a newly minted euro. With strong support from Roy Keane and Nicky Butt, the pair overwhelmed a West Ham side that had begun full of optimism, energy and goals.

Beckham, playing his seventh match in 25 days, was quick of foot and mind. Scholes was simply everywhere. It is true both have been 'rested' on occasion this season, but they were still playing their 42nd and 45th matches of the campaign.

The West Ham manager, Glenn Roeder, worked with the pair during his time as an England coach under Glenn Hoddle. He said approvingly: "Over the two-and-a-half years I got to know them as people as well as players. The reason they have carried on improving in the manner they have is because they are excellent characters. They have genuine desire. It is something you are born with.

"Whenever we were together as a squad I always knew which were the Manchester United players. They worked hard. They always had to be dragged off the training field." That appetite for the game shone through on Saturday. While Paolo di Canio, as talented as anyone in the Manchester United team, flitted in and out of the match, his opponents combined ability with application. "They are a great yardstick for anyone," added Roeder.

After a difficult start Roeder has guided his team into a position of relative comfort despite limited resources. The confidence this has produced was illustrated by an impressive opening 20 minutes which brought two goals. Steve Lomas beat Mickaël Silvestre in the air to head in Vladimir Labant's cross and Frédéric Kanouté rapped in Sébastien Schemmel's driven pass.

However, each time the champions were quickly level. First Joe Cole, aiming for Schemmel, hit a cross-field ball straight to Scholes. Within seconds he had released Beckham down the right flank. He needed just one touch, a sublime chip which left David James stranded. Cole was distraught. He persevered, but his game never recovered.

The second equaliser was more contentious, Butt hooking in Beckham's cross after referee Mark Halsey had allowed Manchester United to retake a fluffed quick free-kick.

From this point on the visitors took control. Keane slowed the game down and Scholes, nominally replacing Ryan Giggs on the left, roamed to devastating effect. This initially left Silvestre vulnerable to Schemmel's advances, but once West Ham struggled for possession the full-back was kept busy defending.

Beckham had another foot in the third goal, though the credit went mainly to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Taking Beckham's pass he seemed too wide to threaten but, despite the attentions of Tomas Repka and Nigel Winterburn, pulled the ball back for the late-arriving Scholes to score. Solskjaer grabbed the fourth himself, another Beckham cross having caused chaos in the Hammers' defence.

That seemed to be it but Jermain Defoe came off the bench, stole in front of Laurent Blanc, and gave the home crowd hope. That was quelled by Beckham, who scored from the spot after Repka felled Scholes.

"Every one of Beckham's passes and crosses had potential to hurt you," said Roeder. "And his first goal was only a half-chance. Anyone but him." It was a chastening experience for West Ham's own English midfielders, Cole and Michael Carrick. Even when Steve Lomas was moved inside to help they rarely influenced the game. "When they look back on the match they will recognise how good their opponents are," sympathised Roeder. "But there is no reason why those two, and Defoe, cannot eventually become as good. They also have a terrific work ethic."

As the visitors celebrated it was hard to recall the bewildered introspection that infected Old Trafford when West Ham won there in December. That nadir left Manchester United 11 points adrift of the then-leaders Liverpool. This victory took them back above the Merseysiders, who had gone to the Premiership summit again at lunch-time. Roeder believes United will stay there. "They are battle-hardened," he said. "They have been there and done it. They know what is required."

Given the form of their rivals that may mean winning all seven of their remaining games, which include Arsenal at home and Chelsea away. There are at least two, and possibly five, Champions' League ties to come as well, but Eriksson should not worry. In 1999 Sir Alex Ferguson felt the intensity of the fixture list contributed to their treble success. The challenge for Eriksson will be overcoming the reaction his Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool players are likely to suffer when the club season ends.

Goals: Lomas (8) 1-0; Beckham (16) 1-1; Kanouté (19) 2-1; Butt (21) 2-2; Scholes (56) 2-3; Solskjaer (63) 2-4; Defoe (83) 3-4; Beckham pen (88) 3-5.

West Ham United (4-4-2): James 5; Schemmel 6, Repka 4, Dailly 4, Winterburn 4 (Defoe 7, 73); Lomas 6, Cole 4, Carrick 5, Labant 5; Kanouté 6, Di Canio 5. Substitutes not used: Hislop (gk), Moncur, Pearce, Garcia.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Barthez 5, G Neville 6, Blanc 4, Johnsen 4, Silvestre 3; Beckham 9, Keane 8, Butt 8, Scholes 8; Van Nistelrooy 5 (Fortune, 86), Solskjaer 8 (Forlan, 83). Substitutes not used: Carroll (gk), Irwin, P Neville.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City) 4.

Booked: West Ham: Schemmel, Repka. Manchester United: G Neville, Solskjaer.

Man of the match: Beckham.

Attendance: 35,281.