United conserve energy for Europe

The whiff of rebellion had blown away, the phoney war was undetectable. If there was any opposition to the proposed BSkyB takeover of Manchester United, it was being kept well hidden at Old Trafford on Saturday.

True, there was a bedraggled man outside the stadium holding a sign saying "Money is a root of all evil". But it was difficult to tell whether he was attempting to make a point about Rupert Murdoch or was there merely in a religious capacity on behalf of the greatest sky pilot of all.

The apathy was contagious and even the Manchester Evening News, normally the hottest crucible for Red Devil debate, promised tamely in its sporting pink that the takeover would mean "business as usual", though it did describe the reaction to the £623 million deal as "one of shock, horror and disgust" in a paragraph tucked away at the bottom of an inside page.

The depressing truth is that, so long as United are winning, no one on the terraces cares what deals are being struck on what is effectively their behalf.

In other words, the chairman Martin Edwards might be coldly selling the soul of the club who, since the Munich air disaster, have more than any other encapsulated the English mix of romance and sentimentality that helps give the game here its unique character. But if you have come in on a Norwegian charter flight from Tromso, bent on blowing your hard-earned kroner in the Man United Megastore, you are not going to allow a reserve of righteous anger to get in the way of some conspicuous consumption.

As ever in football, the bottom line is what happens on the field, and United's surge up the table is the only thing currently occupying the Stretford End.

Coventry were swatted aside like a troublesome gadfly as the £12.6 million striker Dwight Yorke opened the scoring in the 21st minute, his third goal in two games, and then had a hand in Ronny Johnsen's second just after half-time. After that it was game over as United conserved their energy for the visit of Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

United will hope their game will gel a bit more solidly now that Yorke is linking up their attacks with a dexterity that was beyond Andy Cole. With games to follow against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, September could make or break the newlook Reds. Who needs a Super League?

Meanwhile, the fight off the pitch (such as it is) continues. The Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association has called a meeting at the Bridgewater Hall tomorrow night to discuss how to combat the proposed sale of the club to Sky, and the newspapers yesterday were full of possible rival bids for the Red Devil brand.

The Sunday Times had the English National Investment Company (Enic), which owns a slice of Rangers, taking an interest. The Sunday Telegraph announced a £700 million move for United by Salomon Smith Barney, the American investment bank formerly known as Salomon Brothers, although the bank said yesterday only that it was conducting talks on behalf of an unnamed client.

Edwards also kept the pot boiling when asked by Radio 5 Live whether Sky might yet be gazumped on the deal. "There is that possibility," he admitted. "You are honour bound to listen to a bid. You are advised by your merchant bankers and they will tell you whether to discuss a deal or not."

Whatever the outcome, expect the opposition to be muted. Should results go against United for any sort of lengthy period, the Theatre of Dreams may turn into the theatre of hate. But don't go putting any money on it.

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Johnsen (Berg 88), Stam, Beckham (Butt 78), Giggs (Blomqvist 78), P. Neville, Keane, Scholes, Yorke, Solskjaer. Subs Not Used: Cole, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Beckham. Goals: Yorke 21, Johnsen 48.

Coventry City: Hedman, Edworthy, Burrows, Breen, Wallemme, Telfer, Huckerby (Hall 73), Dublin, Boateng, Shaw, Quinn. Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Shilton, Williams, Soltvedt. Booked: Burrows.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).