Alan Curbishley asserted before this game that people should not assume that Manchester United's success comes as a result of being a big club. They have had to work hard, too.

Then again, Charlton were beaten yesterday by a late goal from a player who cost more than the whole of Curbishley's squad. Dwight Yorke's 90th-minute header was enough to take United to the top of the Premiership and the London club a step nearer the relegation that has been predicted for them all season.

Unfortunately for the romantics, money does talk. Charlton defended gallantly and strung together some pleasant passing movements, but the squad contains only two players with Premiership experience and certainly not the quality up front that only big clubs can afford.

Charlton have been unlucky too. They played well against Aston Villa only to lose to an own goal. Ditto against Arsenal, losing to a penalty. And now this.

But there are no consolation points awarded in this sport. The bald facts are that Charlton now sit second bottom of the table having gone 13 games without a league win, losing nine of their last 10 and taking only four points from the last 39. The first division surely beckons.

This is the first time this season that United have headed the table after a weekend of fixtures, though they were top for 24 hours in December. Amazing and ominous, for this was United's fifth win out of five in January after a dodgy December.

This was not a great game. As entertainment goes, it was on a par with a mimed production of Waiting For Godot. Chances were few and far between as Charlton set out to contain Roy Keane and Nicky Butt in midfield and clip the wings of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

That plan worked well for the first half hour, with Charlton regularly managing to manoeuvre themselves into threatening positions before a poor final ball or the linesman's offside flag ended proceedings.

United had to wait until the 24th minute to get their first shot on target, a Giggs volley. Butt also shot just wide and on 39 minutes another Giggs volley from Beckham's cross forced Simon Royce into a diving save.

Charlton hearts beat fastest just before the interval when Mark Kinsella broke into the area and collided with Peter Schmeichel, but no penalty was awarded.

The second half was all United. Butt and Gary Neville went close, Giggs saw a goal-bound shot diverted for a corner by John Robinson's diving tackle and a fierce volley from Keane hit Steve Brown's body rather than the back of the net where it was heading. With a win more important than a point, Alex Ferguson threw on a third striker, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the hero of the late win over Liverpool in the FA Cup.

This stretched the back line enough for Butt to go close on 76 minutes after a one-two with Yorke. Had it been a Yorke one-two with Butt the finish would surely have hit the target rather than careering wide.

But Yorke was only warming up. Three minutes from time, Carl Tiler's tackle just managed to deflect his close-range shot over the bar, and then on 90 minutes came the winning goal. Paul Scholes, on as a substitute, chipped in a cross towards the six-yard line and Yorke rose above Tiler to head the ball against the post and in for his 18th goal of the season.

Ferguson, though asserting that United deserved to win because they had the bulk of the possession, was full of praise for Charlton.

"They defended very well and handled our two strikers as well as anyone this season," he said. "They sat deeper so there was no space behind them and we had to find another way through.

"Unfortunately they didn't have the experience to know what to do when we started moving the ball. But all they need is a break, and if they get the kick-start of a win they have got enough ability and fire to stay up."

Unfortunately the shortage of points is against them and so is history. United last played at The Valley in 1957, winning 5-1.

United took the title that season. Charlton finished bottom.

Ferguson also said his team had shown the crucial ability to grind out results.

"It's a quality of the team. We kept going and persevered and Dwight can score as can Andy Cole. We've got finishers in the team. That's always good to have.

"If you're top of the League that tells you you're doing something right. We're doing a lot right at the moment. We've been playing very well, working hard everywhere on the pitch. They're working hard to get the ball back when they haven't got it. The movement is very good and you get rewards from that."

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley was understandably disappointed.

"The players gave everything they've got. I was disappointed with the last 20 minutes because up until then we gave as good as we got."

Charlton: Royce, Brown, Rufus, Tiler, Powell, Robinson, Kinsella, Redfearn, Jones, Hunt (Bright 77), Pringle (Parker 82). Subs Not Used: Ilic, Newton, Konchesky.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, Berg, Irwin, Beckham (Solskjaer 70), Keane, Butt (Scholes 82), Giggs, Yorke, Cole. Subs Not Used: Johnsen, P Neville, Van Der Gouw. Goals: Yorke 89. Att: 20,043.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).