Manchester United made it four Premiership wins on the trot with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
Goals from Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy were enough to give United all three points against managerless Portsmouth and inflict a fourth successive defeat on the Fratton Park outfit.
The result leaves Portsmouth's new manager, which is likely to be Harry Redknapp, much to ponder as they look to stave off a fight against relegation this term.
United started brightly and Dejan Stefanovic made a crucial intervention to deny van Nistelrooy getting on the end of Giggs' inviting cross in the very first minute.
Two minutes later Van Nistelrooy tried his luck from the edge of the area and his powerful shot was finally gathered by Jamie Ashdown at the second attempt.
Portsmouth looked very nervous at the back and Andy O'Brien and Ashdown got themselves in a terrible mess when the Republic of Ireland defender needlessly gave away a corner when trying to pass the ball back to Ashdown.
From the resulting corner John O'shea saw his close-range shot blocked by Ashdown after the ball dropped invitingly to him.
Portsmouth had their first sight of goal on seven minutes when Wes Brown carelessly passed the ball straight to Tresor Lomana Lua Lua and he curled his effort over the top.
United continued to dominate and Giggs saw a shot from wide on the left kept out by Ashdown's feet before Rooney cut inside two Portsmouth players and fizzed a shot just wide of the target.
Van Nistelrooy created another good chance on 15 minutes when he turned cleverly in the box only to see his shot tipped over by Ashdown.
Three minutes later United went close again when Giggs worked a free kick with Rooney down the left and his cross at the back post fell to Park ji-Sung who drilled his shot over the top.
United finally broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Scholes ghosted in unmarked to head home Giggs' corner.
Lua Lua looked the man most likely to get Portsmouth back into the game and he dragged a shot just wide of the target on 27 minutes.
A free kick from Gary O'Neil caused havoc inside the United penalty area and they were relieved to see van der Sar collect the ball from the feet of Stefanovic.
United came close to doubling their lead just before the break when Rooney played his strike partner van Nistelrooy in on goal, but Ashdown was quickly off his line to smother his shot.
Portsmouth almost caught United cold right after the break when Lua Lua fed Matt Taylor in down the left and he fired in a fierce shot which was turned round the post by van der Sar.
Rooney had his first real sight of goal on 54 minutes when van Nistelrooy flicked the ball into his path, but the England international failed to hit the target with his volley.
Two minutes later Rooney found van Nistelrooy inside the box with a superb pass only for the Dutchman to shoot straight at Ashdown. United saw another chance go begging on 73 minutes when van Nistelrooy flicked substitute Kieran Richardson's cross just wide of the target.
United grabbed a crucial second goal ten minutes from time when Andy Griffin, in trying to intercept a through ball, only helped tee up the ball for Rooney and he dispatched the ball with ease past Ashdown.
Four minutes later van Nistelrooy got his name on the scoresheet when he got on the end of substitute Cristiano Ronaldo's cross and cleverly lifted the ball over the onrushing Ashdown.
