Alex Ferguson and Martin O'Neill looked so drawn after this experience that the match might have been lodged in May, that month of grim resolution, rather than August, when everything seems possible.

The stop-the-watch instructions from Ferguson and manic gesticulations from O'Neill vividly enforced the impression that the Premiership has never been away.

Football has come home, or at least to Old Trafford, very quickly, which is just as well for two adopted sons from the Southeast. For David Beckham and Teddy Sheringham, whose late goals improbably rescued Manchester United from embarrassing opening-day defeat, there was the sound of loud acclamation rather than post-World Cup vilification. For them it was a welcome respite from Wembley last week and for what lies ahead on their travels across England.

Leicester's vociferous fans were drowned out by Beckham's trademark free-kick in time added-on as the exultant midfielder almost literally wrapped himself in the embrace of his Old Trafford adoration society.

United's energy in the frantic last quarter surprised Ferguson, who believes his side are still short of peak fitness. Ultimately, too, he was grateful for a point from an afternoon mocking their aspirations to recover the title. "It was a good result for us," he conceded. "Whether we deserved it was debatable."

There was insufficient time to determine the wisdom of Ferguson's £10.75 million investment in Jaap Stam, since the world's most expensive defender lasted only the first half of his Premiership debut.

According to Ferguson, "he pulled a thigh muscle inside the first 15 minutes" and is likely to be out for two weeks. It will be no reassurance to United followers to know that his central partner Ronny Johnsen was equally ill-atease, especially against the muscular runs of Emile Heskey.

So United will travel to West Ham and then to Poland without Stam but with the burden of the past. For this stuttering performance was as much about continuing forward failings as defensive inadequacies. To this can be added lack of midfield creativity, with United remaining over-dependent on Beckham's crosses as well as his dead-ball deliveries.

After Ryan Giggs's muchlauded performance in midweek, it was suggested that he could fill the striking gap and save Ferguson the £12 million burning in his pocket. It already seems a fanciful notion.

The test of Giggs's versatility was taken a stage further here since he effectively partnered the frustrated - and frustrating - Andy Cole for most of the game.

But, far from being liberated, Giggs looked enslaved until he returned to the much more familiar territory of the left flank in the last quarter. If it is any consolation, he will play against few Premiership defences as thickly populated and efficient as Leicester's, in which the £2 million Frank Sinclair played with remarkable assurance on his debut.

"They don't need a goalkeeper," said Ferguson admiringly of Leicester, who, in fact, were forced to use two because of Kasey Keller's knee injury in the second half. "They defended brilliantly. Some of their blocks were unbelievable."

But the breaks, ultimately, went United's way: Sheringham's headed diversion of Beckham's shot was, if deliberate, absolutely masterly; and Beckham's free-kick followed a rare instance of a referee strictly applying the 10-yard rule. Even then, as O'Neill correctly remarked, his substitute goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad should have saved it.

United's defence was in trouble even before Muzzy Izzet stumbled past two men and crossed for Heskey to miscue but score after seven minutes. Tony Cottee was unchallenged in the 76th minute as he headed in Robbie Savage's early cross and celebrated as if, as here in January, his goal was the match winner.

The last 15 minutes were rendered an eternity by running repairs. Matt Elliott came off with a suspected broken nose and the referee Neale Barry briefly for leg treatment. Even after Beckham's equaliser there was time for Steve Walsh to be booked after a tussle with Sheringham. The very last word lay with O'Neill. Stressed out already? "Wait until you see me in October," he replied.