Premier League - United tame Bolton to go top

Eurosport - Sat, 17 Oct 16:00:00 2009

Manchester United survived a late Bolton Wanderers surge to win 2-1 at Old Trafford and go top of the Premier League.

2009-2010 Manchester United-Bolton Antonio Valencia scores past Fabrice Muamba - 0

A Zat Knight own goal followed by Antonio Valencia's first goal for United were enough to settle the game and render Matthew Taylor's late header no more than an inconvenience.

Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa gave United the chance to return to the summit and the champions - never ones to refuse a chance to kick a rival when they are down - secured victory against a Bolton side that only started playing with 20 minutes remaining.

The champions wobbled late on, but still secured a victory despite Wayne Rooney's injury-enforced absence, delivering a fine team performance.

From the moment Knight put through his own net in the fifth minute, the home side seized control.

The opener had more than a slice of luck about it. In the first of many forays down the left flank, Patrice Evra clipped a cross to the unmarked Michael Owen, who made weak contact with his header but helped it in the direction of Knight, whose bungled attempt to clear ended in the bottom-right corner.

A minute later, it should have been two. Dimitar Berbatov flicked the ball deftly for Ryan Giggs, who stood up a superb cross for Jonny Evans. The Northern Irishman had the goal at his mercy, but his downward header gave Jussi Jaaskelainen the chance to pull off a superb reflex save.

United were all over the visitors, and poured forward in wave after wave of attacks. An unusually energetic Berbatov volleyed just wide from the edge of the box before a rare fright for the men in red.

Sam Ricketts crossed left-footed from the right for Kevin Davies, who appeared to be yards offside but the linesman's flag stayed down. But Davies headed well wide - saving United a goal, and sparing the match officials from a blast of Alex Ferguson's hairdryer.

Giggs replaced Nani on the left for United, and showed all the intellgence, enterprise and decisiveness the Portuguese lacks. On the other flank, Valencia made a rare start. The Ecuadorean has not enjoyed the best time since joining from Wigan, but looked sharp and menacing.

He shot straight at Jaaskelainen from the edge of the Bolton box on 23 minutes, and just after the half-hour went better. Valencia carried the ball into the box, played a superb one-two with Gary Neville and lashed his shot inside the near post.

Berbatov is a joy to watch when he is in the mood, and the Bulgarian showed his full range of skills.

He nearly scored with another - even better - volley that brought one of several excellent saves from Jaaskelainen, and spent the second half trying in vain to set up his strike partner Owen.

The best chance came from a breathtaking backheel that played Owen clean through, but the Englishman stumbled and stabbed his shot well wide.

Owen failed to convert several presentable opportunities, and on present form looks a million miles away from forcing his way in to Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

He may still pop up with the occasional big goal, but Owen can no longer be relied on for a consistent contribution.

His profligacy allowed Bolton to mount a comeback, as Taylor converted a superb header from Kevin Davies's cross - although Ferguson will not be happy at the way the midfielder soared above Evra.

The home side lost their composure as Bolton got back to doing what they do best - knocking the ball long and getting bodies forward.

Ivan Klasnic had a goal disallowed for a foul by Ricardo Gardner on Edwin van der Sar, and the Croatian shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Gary Cahill - reportedly a United target - might have equalised with almost the final touch of the game but Van der Sar held his header.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. united are mint chelsea are rubbish leeds are better­ than that two man team liverpool
    united for the title­ and cl oh and whose ronaldo rooney is 10 times better­ can't wait
    for manu vs liverpool united to win­ easily as for man city your rubbish

    From M, on Sat 24 Oct 9:47PM

  2. Man Utd all the Way!

    From chase, on Sun 18 Oct 3:28PM

  3. redgeoff...
    dont worry mate,KTP is a harmless 'Low­ Intellectual Cross Eyed Midget' born without a­ mother in a birth scandal,is nothing but a­ 'BinDipper',he got no friends,cant see nor talk­ properly cos he has only a sag of scrotum,a 2 inch­ shaft(p.enis)& a petruding inverted nipples,with a­ brain as big as his long lost mother's brown­ nipples!!!...stamped....GGMU....

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Sun 18 Oct 2:42PM

  4. KTP: you are the sickest saddest city bustard ever to­ write on a Manchester United orientated website. You­ sign off asa plane crash lover: I hope the gypsy witch­ curses you like she cursed your bumhole football team­ forty one years ago when you last won the league If I­ was you I wouldn't organise any foriegn holidays or­ away trips involving planes or you might get that which­ you wish on others you sick pyschopathic bitter numpty.­ People who wish ill on others deserve the same fate and­ I hope you get yours soon.

    From redgeoff, on Sun 18 Oct 2:14PM

  5. KTP: you are the sickest saddest city bustard ever to­ write on a Manchester United orientated website. You­ sign off asa plane crash lover: I hope the gypsy witch­ curses you like she cursed your bumhole football team­ forty one years ago when you last won the league If I­ was you I wouldn't organise any foriegn holidays or­ away trips involving planes or you might get that which­ you wish on others you sick pyschopathic bitter numpty.­ People who wish ill on others deserve the same fate and­ I hope you get yours soon.

    From redgeoff, on Sun 18 Oct 2:14PM

  6. isnt it funny - the referee played a minute or so over­ the allotted 4 minutes added time (for delays and­ stoppages that occurred during added time) yet the­ morons who screamed a few weeks ago when it happened­ (against city - with more cause as there were many more­ delays and stoppages) are conspicuously silent. man­ city et al should note that united
    carried on playing­ and when opportunity appeared tried to add to their­ lead - this is more about teams' aptitude and­ attitude than about any real or imagined partiality on­ behalf of any officials.

    From lanegold, on Sun 18 Oct 1:55PM

  7. its business as usual!!!...thought Berbatov & Giggs­ were Marvelous throughout....anw,that beach ball must­ have been worth a fortune!!!..who cares..they're­ pretty much S.HITE anw...WHAT A­ PARODY!!!...hahah...GGMU...
    .....

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Sun 18 Oct 11:50AM

  8. God you scousers make me laugh....but at the end of the­ day, where are United in the table and where are you­ lot? 4 games lost already this season and 1 in the­ Champions League and ALL with Torres and Gerrard.­ Yesterday was the time to prove you CAN actually win a­ game without them.....and guess what....you didn't!­ So much for 'United are nothing without­ Ronaldo' - 'United are a mid table side without­ Ronaldo' - Funny that as we are 7 points clear of­ you mugs at the top of the Premiership and you still­ have your key players in your side! Just goes to show,­ we are a TEAM and we dont generally rely on one player­ to pull us out of the gutter!

    Oh well, never mind­ Liverpool....."theres always next year", or­ the year after that, or after that......lol

    From Joe Moore69, on Sun 18 Oct 10:39AM

  9. OWEN LOOKED A LOT SHARPER YESTERDAY ........DEF SCORE­ NEXT WEEKEND AGAINST THE­ BINDIPPERS..............HOPEFULLY AT THE PPISS­ STINKIN' KOP END !!!!!!!!

    From vegasmufc, on Sun 18 Oct 10:33AM

  10. WE LOVE YOU VAN DER SAR!!!!
    PLEASE DONT RETIRE EARLY

    From Sami, on Sun 18 Oct 10:29AM

  11. ManUnited were definitely not at their best yet. So­ many chances created this time but not converted. Giggs­ was his usual best. Nani should learn from him if he­ were to develop his potentials. Owen, if he remains­ fit, will gain his confidence and sharpness in front of­ goal. And Berbatov were much improved from last season.­ Deserved three points though, although credit to BW for­ making it tough in the last twenty minutes.

    From cokrowinoto, on Sun 18 Oct 6:19AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    own goal...FUKKING AGAIN! That makes 3 in 9­ matches...Dont you consider yourselves more lucky than­ skillful?

    From NothingMan, on Sun 18 Oct 3:17AM

  13. Davies commented earlier on, urging the referee not to­ be influence by the home side, but it turned out he was­ in awed and missed so many chances.

    From louis_tlh, on Sun 18 Oct 2:33AM

  14. MON U TAY WIN PREMIERSHAP
    REAL MEDRAD TAY WIN CL
    MON U­ TAY WIN FA COP
    CHALSEY TAY WIN LEAGUE COP.
    LIVERPOL TAY­ GO DOON.

    From Donney, on Sun 18 Oct 1:15AM

  15. Owen still have his move but he have to admit his touch­ is a bit rusty. But i believe he can shine again and­ claim a place for england at WC.

    From Azrilhafiz Z, on Sun 18 Oct 12:47AM

  16. A good day for Utd. I never expected them to be doing­ quite as well as they are at the moment this season,­ though those that had written them off before the start­ of the season were just pissing into the wind. Still,­ another win to the team that can't score without­ Ronaldo...
    ::
    Arsenal are playing the best football at­ the moment. Great to watch. Wish Utd were playing­ more like that. If they can keep their consistency up,­ they will be fighting for the top spot.
    ::
    Watch out­ for City though. With 2 games in hand, they could­ level points with Utd if they win both, and they have­ only lost one match so far this season. To Utd­ :)
    ::
    Just love the irony in the Liverpool match. ­ Liverpool supporter throws big red ball onto pitch, and­ throws the match for Liverpool. Gotta laff. ­ Definately looking weak without Torres and­ Gerard.
    ::
    As to Chelsea, do not write them off. They­ didn't win, but did play some good football, and­ could have won. Still going to be a team to beat.
    ::
    I­ agree with Wenger. This is looking to be a very close­ season. None of the teams has shown any kind of­ invincibility, and all have shown they can be beaten. ­ This is good for football. In the meantime, THE Reds­ Rule the Roost! Love them or hate them, they are­ number 1 right now.

    From GrumpyOldMan, on Sun 18 Oct 12:33AM

  17. THAT CRASPY DUCK LOOKS TASTAY

    From LEEROY, on Sat 17 Oct 11:48PM

  18. rafa last seen in straight jacket foaming at the mouth­ about Ferguson was behind the beachball incedent ...

    From Glenn T, on Sat 17 Oct 11:02PM

  19. BREAKING NEWS, Police in Sunderland have confirmed that­ they have arrested liverpool manager Rafa Benitez on­ assult charges, In a brief statement they confirmed­ that after the defeat earlier today a fan confronted Mr­ Benitez as he was leaving the Stadium of Light, The fan­ was seen by witnesses to be laughing at the liverpool­ Manager when suddenly he was attacked and beaten to the­ floor by the crazy enraged manager, also in the­ statement police said that the 7year old boy who was­ the victim was in a stable condition. Mr Benitez lawyer­ confirmed that when the case goes to trial on Monday­ they will be pleading insanity after all the Jury only­ has to be showen highlights of liverpools games this­ season to aquit on grounds of insanity.

    From I am top gear stig, on Sat 17 Oct 11:00PM

  20. Poor scouse aint life a Beach lol . Does it get any­ better season ended by a Beachball no wonder rafas gone­ mad ...

    From Glenn T, on Sat 17 Oct 10:54PM
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