Manchester United were cunning, creative and ingenious as they produced a piece of jaw-dropping theatre typical of Old Trafford – then the match started.

Twenty six-foot high red letters were spirited into the stadium under the cover of darkness last Thursday.

They were hauled up to the top of the enormous North Stand by six abseilers, erected in place and then a white sheet draped over them before a bogus 20-metre banner identical to the previous ‘Old Trafford Manchester’ lettering was hung in front to keep the surprise under wraps.

For a club who so often leak news like a sieve, to keep this top secret operation quiet up until 2.50pm on Saturday was a monumental task with only nine ­people at the club in on the secret.

To keep the manoeuvre from Sir Alex Ferguson, who has built up the reputation for knowing everything that goes on in the club, was a brilliantly executed clandestine task that required confidentiality agreements to be signed by those who performed the job of putting the letters in place.

When chief executive David Gill asked the unsuspecting Reds boss to turn around and the curtain fell dramatically to reveal the giant letters officially declaring that the club had named the 26,000-seater three tier stand after him was a gob-smacking emotion charged moment and around 75,000 gasped in astonishment.

It was Gill’s brainchild to set up the fitting unique honour of naming a stand for the first time in the 101-year history of the stadium to celebrate Fergie’s 25 trophy-laden years.

He, and those in the inner circle who had the massive job of putting the covert plan into operation showed true United invention, flair and a touch of quality and class.

Now Fergie will no doubt be getting his teeth into the task of replicating that creativity on the pitch.

After swallowing the lump that formed in his throat when he craned his neck to see his name in all its glory emblazoned across the façade of the old North Stand he composed himself enough after the shock to thank the club for the honour.

Afterwards Fergie said: “I was really emotional. I couldn’t believe and I didn’t expect that.

“I have to thank the club for that because it is fantastic of them to do that. I am really proud of this moment.

“I never knew a thing about it. Mike Phelan knew about it and he never told me, so he’s sacked!

“But I had absolutely no idea and neither had my family. I don’t think they did anyway.

“I am glad it’s all over, though. We can kick on now.”

Ferguson had been mindful throughout the celebrations of his quarter of a century in charge at United that the occasion shouldn’t detract from the main job of securing three points against Sunderland.

Perhaps he realises that the Reds players just don’t seem to do this type of occasion very well.

Prior to his 10th anniversary in 1996 they lost days before to Chelsea at home and had surrendered a 40-year unbeaten Old Trafford European record to Fenerbahce.

For his 20th in 2006 United went to Roots Hall the day after and lost to Southend in an embarrassing Carling Cup defeat.

Anniversary

And, of course, the match that marked the 50th anniversary of Munich in 2008 ended up with a derby defeat to City.

All those emotional blips were in seasons that saw the Reds end up as Premier League champions. ‘Kicking on’ this time, as they need to do following the derby day disaster, is perhaps a bigger task than ever before.

Between the pre-match theatrical surprise and the final whistle when United had clawed victory was 90 minutes of uninventive and flairless fare from the champions that wasn’t solely down to being affected by the anniversary event.

And nobody will know that better than the United manager.

Since the Reds smashed Bolton and then came out on top in an adventurous thriller against Chelsea, the sparkle seems to have gone from United’s performances.

In an attempt to balance solidity with the free-scoring extravagance of early season, United have lost their way when it comes to entertainment and panache.

The January transfer window is eight league games away before United could even consider some answers via that channel – even if there are targets of quality to be had in that mid-winter business period who could make an immediate impact.

Fergie will have to call on all his 25-year experience at Old Trafford to reinvent a side with imagination to challenge City.

The returns soon of Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young will help towards that end.

Getting Cleverley back in the mix for a start will free Wayne Rooney from his quest to strengthen and spark the engine room that has become something of a worrying Achilles heel for fans.

He is doing the job well but the striker who scored nine goals in his first five league games has had to be largely sacrificed as a result.

Again against a Sunderland side who could mix the robust with a certain amount of flair the Reds found it a struggle.

It was a bit like the yawn-fest that was the Otelul Galati European match last midweek in the first half.

Thank heavens for Wes Brown, though it was a heart-breaker you wouldn’t have wished on the popular Mancunian.

Brown scored four of his five goals for United at Old Trafford.

The last was the match-winner that saved United’s blushed in the FA Cup in 2010 against the then non-Leaguers from Crawley Town.

But the 32-year-old couldn’t save his own embarrassment this time as a first half injury corner from Nani skimmed in off his head for what proved to be the winner.

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