Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2: One is 33 and into his 12th season at Manchester United, the other is 31 and into his 15th there. Together Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs have won enough trophies, medals, caps and awards to fill suitcases, and in the case of Giggs there is continuing speculation that he may have to fill his soon and leave Old Trafford.
Giggs and United are involved in a contract stand-off. The Welshman's present deal expires in the summer of 2006 and he has been offered a one-year extension. He wants two years; the club think not. An impasse has been reached.
Giggs is understood to be distraught, although he is not playing like it. He produced the early cross-shot which was parried by Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer to the feet of Darren Fletcher for the opener, and his toe-poke 11 minutes from time sealed United's comfortable win.
It was their ninth in 10 games and Giggs's goal was his third in three games over Christmas and New Year.
There were other moments of skill and persistence from him too, so no wonder his team-mates have been lining up to back him in his contract talks.
This was such a trouble-free 90 minutes for the United defence - tepid Middlesbrough did not have a single shot on target - that Rio Ferdinand had the opportunity to relax and observe as Giggs swayed effortlessly from wing to wing.
"Gary Neville said the other day that you shouldn't have to justify the importance of Ryan Giggs to this football club and I would echo that," Ferdinand said. "He shouldn't have to justify himself.
"He is probably the most decorated player in English football. He is still doing it as well as ever. For anyone to doubt his ability makes you laugh. I certainly wouldn't let him go. I am sure every other player in the team would echo that. I don't think he will be going anywhere."
But the decision will not be made in the dressing-room and, like some sceptical fans, up in the boardroom the directors may be asking why Giggs has not been playing with this zest for the past two years.
He could counter that his commitment and contribution since 1990 should never be in doubt. On Saturday, once again United fans were singing "Giggs will tear you apart" to the tune of Joy Division's classic single.
"Keane will knit you together" does not scan quite so engagingly but, if the sight of Giggs roaming the Riverside was an attractive one, watching Keane was engrossing.
Alex Ferguson thinks the Irishman's best two games this season have been against Arsenal and at Fulham but his performance here, albeit against a side lacking midfield spite or spark, was surely comparable.
On those occasions when Middlesbrough managed to create some degree of anxiety in United, Keane was the one who was there to tie up the loose ends.
It is hard to recall one inaccurate pass. Whether to Paul Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs or back to Ferdinand, he continually knocked it short and simple. Possession was retained and United started again.
Keane's continued fitness - especially with Ruud van Nistelrooy injured - is as important to United as Sol Campbell's to Arsenal and John Terry's to Chelsea. Middlesbrough's manager Steve McClaren called the Irishman United's "heartbeat" and said the "key" to their title challenge was "keeping him playing to the form he's in at the moment".
United had watched and no doubt winced as Chelsea scored a late winner at Liverpool, then listened to Arsenal's win at Charlton.
The pressure was upped as Saturday's hours went by, but United responded. They know they can barely afford a single slip.
When they left the Riverside two seasons ago on St Stephen's Day, having lost 3-1, United looked incapable of catching Arsenal, who had won 2-1 at West Bromwich.
But United did not lose another game and on April 16th 2003 they drew at Highbury to overtake the Gunners.
And on April 16th 2005? Manchester United host Chelsea.
