P: United 4 - 1 Bolton
Park (13) (24) Rooney (16) (73) / Speed (86)
So much for United’s striker crisis.
Even without the absent Saha, Solskjaer and Larsson, United proved much too good for a dazed and confused Bolton side, whose inept defending and ageing midfield gifted United the game before half-time.
Cristiano Ronaldo was again United’s tormentor-in-chief, producing a performance that mocked all those who believe the player is over-hyped and soon to be over-paid. Ronaldo might not be the best player in the world but on this showing, it cannot be long now. The Portuguese winger’s dizzying speed, touch and close control, left Bolton’s defence punch drunk and gave United the platform to demonstrate their title ambitions.
Sir Alex had stressed the importance of the match and his team went on the offensive right from the start. In the fifth minute, Ji Sung Park, bright and industrious all afternoon, missed a glorious chance after Jussi Jaaskelainen’s parried a Giggs header into his path. The Korean blazed over from close range.
United pressed forward but a minute later suffered a setback when a Gary Speed block tackle on Gary Neville, forced the United skipper from the field with ankle ligament damage. United’s injury jinx had claimed another victim. Sir Alex brought on the able Wes Brown but will hope his captain is able to return when Roma and Mancini come to town next month.
Brown slotted in comfortably at right-back and with Bolton only a fitful attacking presence, United could concentrate on developing their forward momentum. Just reward for such enterprise came in the 13 minute courtesy of Ronaldo. The winger picked up the ball near the touchline in Bolton’s half and ran determinedly towards the opposition goal. With Sam Allardyce’s defenders unable to make a meaningful challenge, Ronaldo reached the bye-line before cutting back his pass to the on-rushing Park who finished expertly.
Three minutes later, United produced a goal straight from the training ground. Ronaldo, in his own area, took possession of the ball and threaded a pass to Wayne Rooney. The attacker returned the ball and sprinted forward, knowing that Ronaldo was also racing towards Bolton’s goal with the away defenders mesmerised. The winger timed his return pass to Rooney with perfection, leaving the 21 year old still with the job of beating Jaaskelainen, who rushed out in a bid to narrow the striker’s options. Rooney’s subtle chip beyond the despairing keeper proved an outstanding entry to United’s goal of the season competition.
The game was over as a contest by the 24th minute when Jaaskelainen failed to hold Ronaldo’s shot from outside the box. Park, showing an unexpected poacher’s instinct again, claimed the rebound and United were three goals to the good.
United continued to press forward as the first half drew to a close with Giggs and Rooney both going close. Bolton, now with added forward menace thanks to the arrival of Diouf began to probe the home defence. Kuszczak again looked shaky on crosses but fortunately for Sir Alex, Ferdinand and Vidic had the measure of the Bolton attack. Neither Anelka nor Nolan were able to contribute meaningfully to the game and with Campo and Speed run ragged by Red pace and purpose, United threatened a repeat of last October’s Reebok slaughter of the Whites.
United demonstration of counter-attacking power continued into the second half despite the substitutions of Ronaldo and Giggs. Smith, welcomed back generously by the Old Trafford faithful on his first appearance since his horrific ankle and leg break, returned the compliment in the 73rd minute. The substitute, in his own half, lofted a superb ball which found Rooney in acres of space bearing down on goal from the left. Rooney’s conversion was magnificent.
Bolton were given some comfort by referee Alan Wiley, who in the 86th minute to great surprise awarded the visitors a penalty. It looked a harsh decision on Vidic to be punished for what the referee thought was a push on Faye but Speed was pleased with the opportunity to narrow United’s goal difference, his spot-kick squirming under Kuszczak’s body.
A furious Sir Alex was purple on the touchline but with United irresistible on the day and now just six wins from the title, he and his team will go into tomorrow’s FA Cup replay in good cheer.
TEAM
United: Kuszczak; Heinze; Vidic; Ferdinand; Neville (Brown 10); Giggs Richardson 55); Ronaldo (Smith 69); O’Shea; Carrick; Rooney; Park
Subs: Heaton, Evra
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “It’s a terrific result for us against a Bolton team who, as everyone knows, are very good, making you work all day. But the most pleasing aspect was to score four goals at home at this time of year. That was great.
“I think that emphasises the confidence the players in have themselves and each other. Even when Gary Neville got his injury, and there was a hush in the crowd, the players were undeterred. The performances of Ferdinand and Vidic laid the foundation for us and enabled Wes Brown to settle in. He ended up having a marvellous game himself.
“The combination between Ronaldo and Rooney for the second goal was tremendous, the weight of the pass was perfect, but that’s what he’s all about. He’s been incredible all season, he’s given his all in every game. There’s bound to be speculation about his future, we expect that and we know what Real Madrid and Barcelona are up to but he’s happy here and we are confident he will stay.”
Sam Allardayce: “I can’t understand the team today.I can’t understand how we’ve conceded three goals from basically our dead-ball situations. We have to get the basics right and play the percentage game because we’ve not got the same quality as them.
“We took a goal-kick and they scored. We took a long throw, they scored. And the final goal, we took a free-kick, the ball pops out, Alan Smith hooks it on and Wayne Rooney goes and scores. That is embarrassing particularly when we are supposed to be good in that area. We have gifted Manchester United three goals.
“I am angry with us not doing those things right.I can’t believe we’ve had two weeks to prepare for this game, we’ve been on the training ground all this week and we haven’t played as well as we can.” “
