Sir Alex Ferguson recently declared that he could see similarities between Javier Hernández and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – high praise, indeed, at Manchester United – and now we know why. Hernández will have aspirations to be thought of as more than a devastating substitute, but there was something wonderfully and nostalgically Solskjaer-like about the way he came off the bench here to win the match.

Hernández had been on the pitch only eight minutes when Nani broke menacingly on the right flank and laid the ball inside to another substitute, Federico Macheda. What followed was a moment of supremely clinical forward play. Macheda moved the ball quickly to Hernández, just inside the penalty area, and the Mexican took a touch to steady himself before driving a left-foot shot, combining power and precision, into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

It was a handsome finish from a player whose impact at United has not been as quick as might have been anticipated given his exhilarating pre-season form and, in that moment, United suddenly re-established a sense of authority in Group C. A draw or defeat would have equalled their worst-ever start to a Champions League group; instead, they can take huge encouragement from a classic counter-attacking performance in what will arguably be their most difficult assignment of the competition's first phase.

Their plan was largely based around ploys of conservatism, making it a game of few chances, but Ferguson was entitled to point out that his side had still created the best attacking moments. Hernández turned one of Nani's inviting crosses against the far post a few minutes before his goal, and Dimitar Berbatov almost conjured up a splendid goal when he took down Darren Fletcher's 55th-minute ball, beat his marker David Navarro and charged into the penalty area only for César Sánchez to save his shot.

Elsewhere, Rio Ferdinand justified his place in the team instead of Jonny Evans, restoring a central defensive partnership with Nemanja Vidic that always gives United a more resolute look. Anderson, eager to impress after a long-term knee injury, excelled in an attacking midfield position before tiring during the final exchanges and Michael Carrick can also reflect on a satisfying night's work in his first start since the Community Shield. In the absence of Rooney, Berbatov also deserves credit for filling the lone striker's role with distinction, holding up the ball well and demonstrating his awareness of space, even if there were inevitably times when he was a little isolated from his colleagues.

Ferguson had been so concerned about Valencia he missed his own team playing in the Carling Cup at Scunthorpe last week to watch them play Atlético Madrid, but there was only one occasion in the opening 45 minutes when Edwin van der Sar's goal came under serious threat; Roberto Soldado misdirecting an unchallenged header over the crossbar from Alejandro Domínguez's left-wing cross.

The chance, Ferguson will have noted, originated from Ferdinand giving the ball away, and the manager could be seen later in the first half gesticulating angrily at Park Ji-Sung for doing likewise to leave his team-mates exposed to a fast, incisive counter-attack. That apart, however, the United players demonstrated little of the carelessness that has contributed to them conceding at least two goals in four of their first six Premier League games.

Patrice Evra coped with the substantial threat of the fast and tricky Juan Mata. Ferdinand had a good night even if there must still be concerns about his body judging by the frequency with which he could be seen undertaking a series of stretches on the pitch. Nani played with confidence on the right wing and, even with Rafael da Silva sometimes looking raw at right-back, and a list of absentees including Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, United played with a sense of know-how and calmness.

There were some hairy moments. Valencia's best period came in the 15 minutes before Hernandez's winning strike and, in that spell, the home side did put together some of the quick, incisive football that has seen them become La Liga's early pace-setters. They had not lost any of their previous 11 home matches in European ties and Ferguson spoke afterwards about the high quality of their deliveries from wide positions, but their desire to find a winner left them more open in defence and Hernández, the £7m signing from Chivas Guadalajara, punished them accordingly.