Peterborough 0 Manchester United 2

Tevez in action for United.

Sir Alex Ferguson retained the family bragging rights as a goal either side of half-time gave the Premier League and Champions League holders a 2-0 win over son Darren's ambitious Coca-Cola League One side.

With the world awaiting Cristiano Ronaldo's imminent return to Old Trafford the rest of United's squad made heavy work of seeing off their plucky opponents - who could have recorded an excellent win if it was not for the performance of Tomasz Kuszczak in goal.

Darren Fletcher took the mantle of the number seven shirt in United's starting line-up which also featured England internationals Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown as well as Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez and Nani, but with all due respect to the Scotland man, Ronaldo's absence was palpable.

United started slowly and needed an own goal from Posh right-back Russell Martin to break the deadlock just before half-time.

Kuszczak was required to make several excellent saves to keep Posh out before substitute Darron Gibson smashed home an excellent second.

It was testament to Posh's composed play that there was little to choose between the sides in the opening 20 minutes, though the busy Tevez was outstanding and went close when he collected Fraizer Campbell's lay-off and drove narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Aaron Mclean scored 33 goals last season as Posh won promotion from League Two but blotted his copybook in the 37th minute when he wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring.

Left-back Shane Blackett nutmegged Rafael da Silva - one of a pair of Brazilian twins making their first appearance in the red shirt - before bursting past Ferdinand and firing in a low shot which Kuszczak could only palm back into danger.

Mclean reacted quickest but screwed his shot horribly over with the goal gaping.

It was a let-off for United and Posh were made to pay seconds later as the champions took the lead in farcical style.

Tevez found reserve winger David Gray on the right and his cross was too deep for everyone but Martin, attempting an extremely composed piece of defending, chested the ball past goalkeeper Joe Lewis and into the bottom corner.

Both sides made wholesale changes at the break and after a sparkling run from Peterborough sub George Boyd another replacement, Craig Mackail-Smith, arrowed a header over from close range.

And the former Dagenham and Redbridge striker was denied an equaliser moments later in the 57th minute when Kuszczak pulled off a fantastic save to tip over his header from point-blank range.

But it was left to United youngster Gibson to apply the gloss to the win when he collected a 67th-minute pass from Lee Martin and crashed a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

United play Juventus at Old Trafford on Wednesday followed by the Community Shield against Portsmouth on Sunday in a busy week set to be dominated by talk of Ronaldo's future.

Darren and Peterborough, meanwhile, face the less glamorous prospect of a trip to Roots Hall for their League One opener against Southend and the start of a season where, like his dad, he will be expected to lead his side to the title.