In a game to mark the farewell to one of United's modern legends, it was a youngster from Solskjaer's reserve team who put the icing on the cake with a well-taken goal 10 minutes from time.

But that was perhaps one of the least important aspects of the day, as the Old Trafford crowd cheered every touch the forward made in his 23-minute cameo.

It was a shame Espanyol goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez had not read the day's script, twice denying Solskjaer one last goal in a United shirt.

In the end it did not matter, as Fraizer Campbell made sure United got the win they deserved.

Despite it being the first trip to Old Trafford for the entire Espanyol squad, the visitors from Barcelona looked calm on the ball in the opening exchanges.

In fact it was they who forced the first of the early half chances, Liverpool target Albert Riera causing some excitement from a couple of early corners while new left-back Gregory Beranger personified Espanyol's confidence with a speculative long-range effort 10 minutes in.

But from then on United found their rhythm and should really have gone ahead during a 25-minute spell of heavy pressure.

Nani was first to go for goal after winning a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Then two minutes later the visitors were caught napping as Marc Torrejon gave the ball carelessly to Carlos Tevez, who in turn released Ryan Giggs down the left.

The Welshman squared the ball to Paul Scholes whose looping shot beat Alvarez but bounced back off the post.

Giggs tried again from the follow-up but could only shoot wide.

United were now well on top and minutes later Evra and Nani combined well on the left to allow the Portugal international to send a low ball across the box.

Daniel Jarque cut it out but sent the ball to the feet of Darren Fletcher who fired over.

Espanyol were finding it hard to cope with United's passing and the darting runs of Tevez and Nani, and were let off twice from shots from the Argentinian forward and Scholes before half-time.

With four changes apiece at the break the second half was decidedly more low key, the emergence of Solskjaer to warm up on the touchline after the hour mark drawing the biggest cheer from the crowd.

Then with 23 minutes remaining the Norwegian's big moment came. Tevez made way and the Old Trafford crowd gave their hero a rapturous welcome, and proceeded to greet his every touch as if it were a goal.

And after Espanyol briefly tried to spoil his party with Luis Garcia, Oscar Sielva and Julian Lopez all going close, Solskjaer stole the show.

First, a free-kick which he had sent into wall was crossed back into Giggs, who flicked the ball on to Solskjaer. Perhaps due to the occasion the Espanyol defence seemed to back away as he curled in a shot, but Alvarez was not feeling as charitable, making the save of the game to palm the shot away.

Minutes later and Solskjaer created the space he needed all by himself, cutting the ball back to send in a shot Alvarez took at the second attempt.

Still, the Argentinian was powerless to stop United getting their long-awaited goal with 10 minutes remaining.

Giggs played the ball through to Campbell who coolly lifted the ball into the net.