BY Joe Lovejoy ( The Times )

WIMBLEDON, where men have always been men, is a thousand miles and a million light years from the Old Lady of Turin, but the Dons produced all the defensive obduracy United can expect from Juventus on Wednesday to halt a damaging run of three successive defeats with a hard-earned point.

Although nowhere near their best, the league leaders created a hatful of chances, but were left with only David Beckham's third goal in as many matches to show for their territorial dominance. Alex Ferguson regarded it as two points dropped on a ground where his team boast an impressive record, but perked up appreciably on learning of Arsenal's draw at Southampton.

With the top two both held, it was Chelsea's day, victory against Charlton thrusting them right back into title contention.

Wimbledon have been on the slide of late, but they were true grit personified, particularly well served by their goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, who is said to interest United and did his prospects of a lucrative move a power of good. Only just behind Sullivan on the Dons' roll of honour were Chris Perry and Dean Blackwell, who were rock-solid in central defence.

Wimbledon led after only five minutes, through Jason Euell's goal and, although the second half was backs-to-the-wall stuff, the blue line held with the spirit of old.

Beforehand, though, the omens were not good. United had prevailed on each of their previous four visits; Wimbledon had won one in nine. But United were without the immensely influential Jaap Stam and Ryan Giggs, both rested with Wednesday's European date in mind, and the Dons had Perry, their best defender, back after injury. Stam was missed, Perry was top drawer.

The odds may have been against them, but Wimbledon are often at their best in such situations, and it was the have-nots who got away to a flyer. A long clearance by Sullivan brought a maladroit response from Gary Neville, whose headed back-pass sold his goalkeeper short. Euell reached the ball well before Peter Schmeichel and knocked it past him before forcing it over the line as Ronny Johnsen slid in just too late to deny him.

United hit back hard, but took a long time to summon the accuracy needed to repair the damage. Paul Scholes, set up by Roy Keane on the 18-yard line, fired low past Sullivan's right-hand post, Neville had a strong shot saved and Sullivan dashed from his line to thwart Keane. At the other end Euell, set up by John Hartson, demanded a decent save.

Sullivan further distinguished himself in keeping out a Scholes shot and denying Keane at close quarters and, if only for perseverance, United deserved parity. They had it after 44 minutes, when Denis Irwin crossed from the left and Blackwell could only clear as far as the onrushing Beckham, who thumped the ball home without breaking stride. All-square was probably about right at the match's mid-point.

Allowances had to be made for the playing surface, which had cut up with the rain, but United were well below par, their defence making as many mistakes in 45 minutes as they had all season.

United were able to pass and move well enough in midfield, but their attacks foundered on the assiduous determination of the Dons defence. One could only wonder how the same players lost against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers. The old Crazy Gang spirit was in evidence when Neville sent Beckham striding down the right and the best crosser of the ball in the country picked out Dwight Yorke in the goalmouth. For once, Perry and Blackwell were nowhere, but Robbie Earle blocked the Caribbean pirate's meaty drive.

Back came United, turning the screw, and Jesper Blomqvist drew an improvised save from Sullivan with a deflected 25-yarder that had the goalkeeper going the wrong way. In keeping with a heroic performance, Scotland's No 1 stuck out a boot to keep the ball out.

Wimbledon had hit a wall, running up blind alleys in their rare break-outs. Earle raised their spirits with a surging run which culminated in a long-range piledriver that Schmeichel was happy to knock down, but United reasserted themselves and Andy Cole went close. The ponderous Hartson was withdrawn in favour of Carl Cort; small return as yet on that club record £7m investment.

Wimbledon were offering precious little as an attacking force, but might have burgled the lead late on when Marcus Gayle stepped inside Johnsen before letting fly from 20 yards and sending Schmeichel plunging low to his left. Rather less surprising would have been the goal Yorke was close to supplying with a six-yard header. Scholes also threatened to win it, but Sullivan denied him with the best of his saves.

Disappointed, Ferguson left without a word. His team must do better on Wednesday.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Kimble (Ardley 81min), Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, C Hughes (Roberts 83min), Earle, Gayle, M Hughes, Euell, Hartson (Cort 68min).
Booked: Cort.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Beckham, Cole, Blomqvist (Solskjaer 73min), Keane, Scholes, Yorke, Berg.
Booked: Berg.

Scorers: Wimbledon Euell 5. Manchester United: Beckham 44.

Attendance: 26,121. Referee: G Barber (Pyrford).

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

Attendance: 55,052.