Giggs reaches milestone with old tricks and new devilry

Deploying precision and vision where he once he used blistering speed and dribbling devilry, Ryan Giggs marked his 500th League appearance for Manchester United last night by leading them closer to what would be his ninth championship medal.

Giggs played the unaccustomed part of midfield general to near-perfection, the pass of the game making the goal with which Wayne Rooney killed off a spirited if limited Sheffield United. With the points secure, he received a standing ovation when he was substituted 10 minutes from the end.

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Sir Bobby Charlton would have been proud to claim the long, beautifully-weighted pass which Giggs lofted into the Sheffield United penalty area four minutes into the second half. Rooney's finishraised the roof, but it was significant that the Manchester United players were as quick to acclaim the provider.

Gary Pallister once remarked that the Welshman in full cry gave defenders "twisted blood". This was a different Giggs, still creating havoc but in a more measured, almost serene manner.

One delicate short pass on the gallop gave Alan Smith an opportunity he did not grasp, and when the loose ball ran to Giggs only a desperate save by Paddy Kenny prevented his reaching another landmark, his 100th League goal.

Sheffield United were responsible, after a fashion, for inflicting Giggs on the Premier League. Their victory over Manchester United on the new competition's opening day - when Brian Deane famously scored its first-ever goal - prompted Alex Ferguson to call up the Welsh whippersnapper for the next match against Everton.

Nearly 15 years later, it remains the Blades' last win against Ferguson's side.

In the Welshman's early playing days, he was considered an orthodox left-winger, but he was never a touchline-hugger. This season has found him in a variety of roles: off the front, up front and out wide, among others.

Here, wearing the captain's armband, Giggs appeared to have been given free rein. Starting in a deep-lying midfield position, he sprayed passes like an old-style playmaker. But he was not exactly sitting, to use the modern parlance, instead he was frequently accelerating from strolling to scorching in seconds.

Giggs is one of only two players - the other being Gary Speed - to have scored in every Premiership campaign. But last night when he first came within shooting rangehe cleverly dummied Rooney's pass to set up Paul Scholes, whose brutal drive flashed over Kenny's crossbar.

A fractious contest was a less than ideal setting for Giggs' milestone. Milan's spies in the stand, assessing United ahead of next Tuesday's Champions League semi- final, will report back on his enduring capacity to drag defenders out of position and his ability to pick out a red shirt.