LONDON - The Louis van Gaal era finally got lift off as Manchester United demolished Queens Park Rangers 4-0 yesterday for their first victory since the Dutchman took charge at Old Trafford.

New signing Angel di Maria was outstanding throughout, scoring the first, before captain Wayne Rooney and fellow new boy Ander Herrera made the result a formality, while Juan Mata completed the rout in the second half.

United's first win in four Premier League matches took them up to ninth place in the table, only two points outside the top four.

"We played much, much better," Spaniard Mata said afterwards. "Hopefully it's the first step of a good run of results."

Van Gaal enjoyed the crowd's applause as he left the pitch following a first win after a difficult start which included a shock 4-0 League Cup defeat at third tier side MK Dons.

"I'm very happy because of the way we played," the Dutchman said.

"It's a very good start. I said before the game 'let's make a new start'. The result is fantastic but we can do better."

Reminded that after taking over as Bayern Munich manager he did not win until the fourth game, then won the championship, the 63-year-old responded: "Maybe it's a good signal."

It all added up to a forgettable return to Old Trafford for Rangers' centre-half Rio Ferdinand, who played for United for 12 years until last May, winning six Premiership titles and a Champions League.

Ferdinand received a presentation before kick-off from the United director Bobby Charlton, but once the game started was soon under pressure - being forced into a clearance to deny marksman Rooney.

"I thought if we came in at half-time at 1-0, we would still be in the game. But we gave away two goals and came in at 3-0 despite [goalkeeper] Rob Green barely having a save to make," said Rangers manager Harry Redknapp. - AFP