Manchester United stormed back to the top of the Premiership table with a 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at the Valley to record their 11th win in their last 12 Premiership games and their sixth successive away Premiership success.

United allowed Liverpool less than 24 hours to enjoy top spot and the race for the title looks likely to go the last match of the season, when ironically, United entertain Charlton at Old Trafford.

The visitors were good value for their win against a Charlton side who battled hard to get something out of the game and certainly weren't disgraced.

Two goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his 14th and 15th of the season, one in each half, earned United the points and gave notice to their challengers that they are in no mood to give up their title.

The Addicks got off to a good start and put the visitors under pressure but they were never able to maintain enough momentum to cause United too many problems and it took until injury time in the first half before the home side managed to get their first worthwhile shot of the game, when midfielder Chris Bart-Williams shot wide.

The home side did cause the United defence a few problems from set-pieces, but goalkeeper Roy Carroll, deputizing for Fabien Barthez who was out with a back injury, was never really tested.

Ryan Giggs shot wide for United early on and Roy Keane had a shot saved by his Republic of Ireland international colleague Dean Kiely, but United struck with their usual decisiveness on 33 minutes.

A brilliant 50-yard Keane pass fell straight into the path of Solskjaer who waltzed past Charlton defender Mark Fish before planting the ball in the bottom corner of the net with a fine right foot shot.

In the second half Charlton played with much more freedom and might have equalised after 50 minutes when Bart-Williams' corner was headed on at the near post by Fish and Jason Euell at the far post headed wide.

Charlton did get the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.

Although Charlton were desperately trying to get themselves back in the match the feeling was always there that Manchester United were always in control of the game and they made sure that there was no way back for the Londoners with a goal on 74 minutes.

Giggs put in a hard low shot from the left which was turned away by Kiely. There appeared to be no danger as Charlton went to clear the ball, but Solskjaer reacted before anyone else to angle the ball back into the net from an acute angle.

The Charlton players protested that Giggs had nudged one of their players before his shot but referee Alan Wiley rejected their claims.

Charlton threw on all their substitutes, but as hard as they tried they were unable to breach the United back four which were playing together for the 12th consecutive game.

Charlton's biggest attendance for 25 years, 26,475, provided a tremendous atmosphere, but United showed once again what a force they are and their incredible run has taken them from ninth position in the Premiership in December to the top of the pack.

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