Manchester United Vs. Bolton Match Report

It was those familiar names – Ronaldo and Rooney – on the scoresheet once again at Old Trafford as United beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0.

And although referee Rob Styles gifted the Reds a penalty to open the scoring after an hour, Sir Alex’s men proved their superiority time and time again over the 90 minutes. As has been the case over the years, only the brilliance of Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal kept the score respectable.

The manager made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Chelsea last weekend. Despite five goals in his last five starts against Bolton, Wayne Rooney had to be content with a place on the bench. He was joined there by fellow Stamford Bridge starters Paul Scholes and Jonny Evans.

Nemanja Vidic reclaimed his spot in the heart of the Reds’ defence, while Cristiano Ronaldo earned his first league start of the season. Anderson replaced Owen Hargreaves in midfield, with Sir Alex opting for Carlos Tevez up front alongside Dimitar Berbatov.

But it was Bolton who engineered the first shot on goal, Kevin Nolan firing a crisp half-volley into van der Sar’s midriff after just two minutes. The Trotters enjoyed the lion’s share of possession early on and the visiting fans were in fine voice.

Then the Reds stepped up a gear. Anderson, Berbatov and Ronaldo combined well before the Bulgarian had half a chance to head United into the lead on 12 minutes. Fletcher’s pinpoint cross found the former Spurs forward eight yards from goal but his header lacked the necessary power to beat Jaaskelainen.

United went close again after a quarter of an hour when the ‘keeper spilled Tevez’s shot into the path of Ji-sung Park. Unlike last weekend at Stamford Bridge, however, Park couldn’t direct the follow-up into the net.

Bolton’s custodian was called into action once again in order to beat out Ronaldo’s free-kick after Gavin McCann had unceremoniously upended the no.7 25 yards from goal.

Anderson was next to stretch the Finn, with a curling shot from wide of the penalty area on 34 minutes. He tipped that effort over the bar and then flung himself to his left two minutes later to keep out Rio Ferdinand’s half-volley.

Despite United’s dominance the Reds almost went into the break a goal down. Only Fabrice Muamba will know how he missed the best chance of the match, blazing wide from eight yards when he had both space and time to pick his spot.

Normal service resumed after the break, with Ronaldo’s scuffed shot hitting the post on 49 minutes. Then it was a last-ditch block that denied the Portuguese international the opener after an exquisite ball from Berbatov found Ji-sung Park in space.

Ronny did find the net on the hour, although referee Rob Styles’ decision to award United a penalty for an alleged trip on the no.7 was rather bizarre.
With Ronaldo cutting across the penalty area from the right wing, Jlloyd Samuel got nothing but ball in his attempt to stop the winger’s run. Styles, however, deemed the tackle illegal and had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot.

When Bolton’s protests died down, Ronny calmly strode forward, stuttered in his run-up and sent Jaaskelainen the wrong way to put the Reds in front.

The goal prompted changes from Sir Alex shortly afterwards, with Tevez and Anderson making way for Rooney and Scholes.
Rooney looked particularly sharp and sparked almost from the moment he set foot on the pitch. It was hardly surprising, then, that the no.10 added a second just seven minutes after his introduction.

Ronaldo darted into the Bolton area and, with Rooney following his lead, backheeled the ball into the England striker’s path. Rooney shaped to shoot first time but sold a dummy to his marker. That made him enough time to look up, pick his spot and curl the ball neatly into the far corner.

Scholes and Berbatov both could have (and should have) added a third before the end, but it mattered little as United picked up a deserved three points. It wasn’t quite top gear but there was enough promise to suggest that’s just around the corner.

United: Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo (Nani 80), Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes 71), Park; Tevez (Rooney 71), Berbatov

Subs not used: Amos, Evans, O’Shea, Giggs

Bolton: Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel; Davies, Muamba, McCann, Nolan, Gardner (Smolarek 73); Elmander (Vaz Te 67)

Subs not used: Al Habsi, J O’Brien, Shittu, Taylor, Riga
Booked: Elmander, McCann, Davies

Attendance: 75,484