Saturday January 14, 2012 Day 21 Finished Old Trafford

Manchester United 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

  • Scholes 45’
  • Welbeck 74’
  • Carrick 83’

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  1. Scholes rolls back the years for United

    Scholes rolls back the years for United

    Paul Scholes scored in his first Premier League game since coming out of retirement as Manchester United beat Bolton 3-0 at Old Trafford. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester United
    • Bolton Wanderers
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • - Want to have your say on Scholes's goal or Rooney's misses? Get in contact with me on Twitter. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 90+3' FULL TIME. Scholes, Welbeck and Carrick on target as United go joint top of the table with Manchester City, having played a game more.
    • 90+2' Bolton go close as Pratley fires one wide from just inside the box! He really should have scored, not that it matters in the grand scheme of things.
    • 90+1' We will have three minutes of added time.
    • 90' An excellent effort from Hernandez as he gets in front of his man to meet a Valencia cross from the right and flicks a shot behind.
    • 89' Tuncay replaces Petrov as Bolton make a late change.
    • 88' Stat from Infostrada: "Michael Carrick scored his second PL goal of the season, and his first at Old Trafford in 23 months since netting in their 5-0 win against Portsmouth in February 2010."
    • 86' Ferdinand rubs his head after a clash with Ngog and though he looks a touch dazed he will continue.
    • 84' GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Bolton! What a goal from Carrick, an absolutely sumptuous finish. Giggs found him 30 yards from goal and the midfielder shifted the ball to his left before passing it into the back of the net from range. Gorgeous.
    • 82' Excellent from Valencia as he fizzes in a low cross from the right but there is not a United shirt in sight.
    • 81' Bolton change things up again in midfield as Darren Pratley replaces Muamba.
    • 81' Stat from Opta: "Wayne Rooney has two assists so far today, as many as in his previous 28 Premier League appearances combined. Creator."
    • 80' Stat from Infostrada: "Danny Welbeck scored his fifth PL goal this season – all four previous goals came in victories by at least two goals."
    • 78' Change for United as Welbeck has not recovered from that knock and is replaced by Chicharito.
    • 76' United are getting Javier Hernandez ready on the touchline.
    • 75' Rooney was also hurt as he was bundled to ground when playing the ball to Welbeck and both players require treatment.
    • 74' GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Bolton! An excellent finish from Welbeck as he sticks out his leg to connect with a pass from Rooney and turns the ball past Bogdan. He gets a kick from Ricketts in the process and is hurt though.
    • 72' Bolton make their own change as young Joe Riley replaces Eagles in midfield.
    • 71' Park Ji-Sung has also come on for Nani.
    • 70' The ball breaks for Rooney but as he pulls the trigger he is crowded out by Bolton shirts.
    • 69' Scholes comes off after a sterling 69 minutes and is replaced by another spring chicken in Ryan Giggs.
    • 69' United clear off the line! Steinsson gets to the near post to meet a corner from Petrov and his header loops up into the air, forcing Rafael to head away at the back post.
    • 68' Petrov takes the corner from the left but puts far too much on it and the ball soars over anyone in the white of Bolton.
    • 67' Evans just about holds onto Reo-Coker and slides the ball behind for a corner...
    • 65' What with that miss and his failure to score from 12 yards, this has been a hugely frustrating afternoon from Rooney so far.
    • 63' Rafael produces a fine diving block to prevent a fearsome volley from Martin Petrov testing Lindegaard, while Ferdinand stops the follow-up from Eagles. Good defending from United.
    • 62' What a miss from Rooney! Superb work from Valencia as he darts into the box and pulls a lovely cross into the path of Rooney, who somehow turns the ball into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
    • 60' Scholes snaps into another tackle for United. He has had a deeply impressive game here at Old Trafford.
    • 59' Tenacious stuff from Scholes as he charges back 30 yards to dispossess Davies with a fine tackle. He hasn't looked 37 and fresh out of retirement today.
    • 57' An interesting choice by Eagles from a free-kick as he tries to float the ball across instead of shooting. It fails to come off as United clear.
    • 56' Muamba does well to hold off Rooney and nick the ball away from the striker but Bolton promptly give it straight back to United and Welbeck squares for Rooney again, who pulls his shot wide.
    • 54' Bogdan does well to repel a cross from Valencia through a forest of players. Bolton are then forced to clear behind as Welbeck tries to execute a backheel and get away from Wheater.
    • 53' Stat from Infostrada: "Paul Scholes becomes the second player to score in at least 18 different PL season, after team mate Ryan Giggs (20)."
    • 52' Ngog is guilty of a wild, wild challenge on Carrick and rightly goes into the book. He raked his studs down the back of the midfielder's leg.
    • 51' Nice work from Davies as he intercepts a poor pass from Evans, drives into the box and then sees Ngog fire off target from his cut-back. He has probably been Bolton's best offensive player so far.
    • 50' Stat from Infostrada: "Manchester United have now scored in their last 41 PL home matches, setting a new PL club record. Only once before have they had a longer streak in the top flight – 42 matches in a row from February 1955 to February 1957."
    • 49' Scholes penalised for a handball and Bolton fling the ball into the box, only for Ferdinand to head clear.
    • 48' Nani takes the corner and picks out Evra completely unmarked, but the Frenchman's header soars high past the far post.
    • 47' An early chance for Welbeck as he controls in the box and sees a shot from a tight angle deflected behind for a corner.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
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    • 45+1' HALF-TIME. Well that was pretty handy from Scholes: a goal right on the stroke of half-time. Fergie must be pleased with that decision to bring him out of retirement.
    • 45' GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Bolton! It's Paul Scholes! What a wonderful moment for player and club. Nani's cross is blocked by the sliding Wheater but the ball falls nicely for Rooney, who plays the ball square across the face of goal and finds Scholes lurking at the back post. He turns in for a 1-0 lead.
    • 43' Stat from Infostrada: "Bolton are on course to keep a first half clean sheet for the fifth PL match in a row."
    • 41' Nani spreads the ball to Rooney, who attempts to find Welbeck with a first-time pass. Knight reads it perfectly though and allows the ball to run through to Bogdan.
    • 40' Rooney, again, spots a chance from outside the box and though his shot is sneaking wide, Bogdan takes no chances and dives to get his fingers to it, before snaffling up the loose ball as Welbeck races in to nick it away.
    • 39' Nigel Reo-Coker trips Nani 25 yards from goal and Rooney takes the free-kick, only to see his dipping effort fly into the arms of Bogdan in the Bolton goal.
    • 38' Stat from Infostrada: "Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four PL matches when missing a penalty, since a 1-0 defeat against a Burnley team managed by current Bolton boss Owen Coyle in August 2009."
    • 37' As Rafael pings another cross into the box Nani is felled after tangling with Fabrice Muamba and remonstrates firmly with referee Walton. No penalty though.
    • 36' Unlucky from Rafael. The Brazilian executes a lovely turn when flicking the ball through his legs before flinging in a dangerous cross but there isn't a United shirt in sight to meet it.
    • 35' It is the Bulgarian who takes it. He rolls the ball to Eagles, who stops it and allows Petrov to smack a shot into the wall.
    • 34' Ferdinand is angry when penalised for a push on Ngog 20 yards from goal but he came in from behind and it was a clumsy challenge. Petrov lurks with intent...
    • 32' Davies nutmegs Valencia before thumping in a cross to find David Ngog. He controls and wins a corner off Evra. The delivery causes Lindegaard no problem though.
    • 31' Rooney, determined to make amends for his failure to score from 12 yards, takes the ball infield and drags a pretty awful effort well, well wide of the post.
    • 29' Bogdan gets down well to deal with a dipping effort from a tight angle from Welbeck and ushers the ball round the post.
    • 28' Patrice Evra knocks the ball square to Scholes but his shot from 20 yards flies well off target. That's United's eighth chance of the match so far.
    • 27' Stat from Infostrada: "In total Rooney has missed six of 14 career PL penalties, including four of his last eight."
    • 26' Nani heads down from Valencia's cross to the back post but as Rooney meets the bouncing ball he only succeeds in sending it spinning high over the bar.
    • 25' A chance for former United man Chris Eagles but he slices his shot and the ball soars high into the stands.
    • 24' While Walton got the penalty award correct, it probably should have been a dismissal. Welbeck was to the right of the box but had a clear sight and goal and was shaping to shoot.
    • 23' Incidentally, that was the first penalty awarded by referee Peter Walton in the Premier League this season.
    • 22' WHAT A SAVE! Stunning stop from Bogdan! He flings himself full stretch to the right and tips the ball round the post!
    • 22' It's a booking but probably should have been a red as he denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
    • 21' PENALTY TO UNITED! Knight trips Welbeck and that is blatant.
    • 20' Rooney spots Scholes in space on the right wing and pings a pass out to the midfielder. However, at 37 he risks the flexibility required to pull the ball out of the air.
    • 19' Welbeck slips in Nani with a low pass and Wheater comes across to have a little snap at the winger's heels as he gives away a corner.
    • 17' From the corner Rooney rises high some 12 yards from goal and directs a header past Bogdan, but his effort is cleared off the line by the man stationed on the near post, Davies.
    • 16' Rooney goes close! The forward first plays in Welbeck when charges into space to receive the ball back from his team-mate. His fierce effort deflects behind for a corner.
    • 15' Bogdan deals with a dangerous low cross from the right by sticking out an arm and palming the ball away. Excellent goalkeeping from a man who has often looked ill at ease when replacing Jaaskelainen.
    • 14' Valencia whips in a dangerous cross from the right but Bolton clear behind, and then scramble a corner behind for yet another set-piece.
    • 12' United's use of the ball is far better than Bolton's at present, as you would of course expect given the disparity in the ability of the two groups of players.
    • 11' Under pressure from Welbeck, Zat Knight does well to deal with a high ball over the top from Ferdinand and clear.
    • 10' Bogdan shows good judgement to race off his line and slide in to clear as Welbeck attempts to latch onto a pass over the top.
    • 10' Stat from Infostrada: "Paul Scholes is 37 years and 59 days old today, the oldest Englishman in the PL this season. He needs 58 days to become the oldest Englishman for Manchester United in the PL."
    • 9' Classic Scholes, and not in a good way. The midfielder swings a leg at Mark Davies and catches him in the stomach. Ouch.
    • 8' Now Welbeck flicks a header wide of the far post as the chances continue to flow for United. It looks as though the Bolton defence will have a busy afternoon.
    • 7' Rooney plays in Valencia with another lovely pass down the right. He checks inside his man but opts against shooting with his left foot and instead darts to the touchline to whip in a low cross that David Wheater gets a foot to and clears.
    • 6' Nothing comes of the set-piece for United but they will certainly be encouraged with the ease with which Carrick found Welbeck with his glorious pass. Even Scholes could barely have done better.
    • 5' A great chance for United! Michael Carrick releases Danny Welbeck with a quite brilliant through-ball and the young forward sees his firm effort palmed behind by Adam Bogdan.
    • 4' Scholes looks to settle into his passing rhythm but sprays a long ball to Antonio Valencia out of play on the right.
    • 3' A nervy moment at the back for United as an unconvincing pass comes the way of Evans and he quickly plays a pass to Anders Lindegaard, who shows good composure to play it to Rio Ferdinand and away.
    • 2' Excellent work from Wayne Rooney as he holds onto the ball in the centre of the pitch and feeds Nani on the left. He charges forward and with Gretar Steinsson standing off he takes a touch before bending a shot wide of the post.
    • 1' A couple of nervy moments for Jonny Evans early on but United settle down.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 14.57 United line up in a fairly traditional 4-4-2 by the looks of things, with players in their natural positions. That is a rarity under Ferguson this season. The players are now out on the pitch...
    • 14.55 Want to have your say on today's game and join in the debate? Get in contact with me on Twitter and I will try and use some of your comments here. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 14.50 We had an exclusive interview with Sir Alex Ferguson this week so step this way if you want to hear his views on Scholes's return, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's managerial attributes and the pressure generated by the media. Fergie exclusive
    • 14.45 Though they defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend for a bit of a morale boost, United have lost their past two league games (3-0 at Newcastle and 3-2 at home to Blackburn) and have not lost three in a row in the Premier League since December 2001. Given Bolton have won only one of their past 18 league matches against United, it would represent a huge, huge surprise if the Trotters got anything today.
    • 14.40 Stat from Infostrada: "Bolton have failed to win in their last 32 PL away visits to 'big four' clubs stretching back over eight years, losing each of their last 14, since a 2-1 victory at Chelsea in December 2003."
    • 14.35 If Manchester United win, and they certainly should do judging by the look of the Bolton team, they will go joint top with Manchester City on 48 points, albeit having played a game more. Tottenham can make it a three-way tie if they win at home to Wolves - a game also taking place at 3pm.
    • 14.30 Plenty of changes for United with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling both out injured, and Paul Scholes coming in for Ryan Giggs. Gary Cahill is missing for Bolton as he is in London undergoing a medical with Chelsea and Jussi Jaaskelainen is out with a thigh problem so Adam Bogdan continues in goal.
    • 14.25 TEAMS: Man Utd: Lindegaard, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck. Subs: De Gea, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, Pogba. /// Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Wheater, Knight, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Mark Davies, Ngog. Subs: Lynch, Sanli, Kevin Davies, Klasnic, Pratley, Boyata, Riley.
    • 14.20 Early team news is filtering through and we can tell you that Manchester United start with Paul Scholes for the first time since he came out of retirement.
    • 14.15 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League tie between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

  • Summary

    • 90+2' Bolton go close as Pratley fires one wide from just inside the box! He really should have scored, not that it matters in the grand scheme of things.
    • 90' An excellent effort from Hernandez as he gets in front of his man to meet a Valencia cross from the right and flicks a shot behind.
    • 84' GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Bolton! What a goal from Carrick, an absolutely sumptuous finish. Giggs found him 30 yards from goal and the midfielder shifted the ball to his left before passing it into the back of the net from range. Gorgeous.
    • 74' GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Bolton! An excellent finish from Welbeck as he sticks out his leg to connect with a pass from Rooney and turns the ball past Bogdan. He gets a kick from Ricketts in the process and is hurt though.
    • 69' United clear off the line! Steinsson gets to the near post to meet a corner from Petrov and his header loops up into the air, forcing Rafael to head away at the back post.
    • 62' What a miss from Rooney! Superb work from Valencia as he darts into the box and pulls a lovely cross into the path of Rooney, who somehow turns the ball into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
    • 56' Muamba does well to hold off Rooney and nick the ball away from the striker but Bolton promptly give it straight back to United and Welbeck squares for Rooney again, who pulls his shot wide.
    • 45' GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Bolton! It's Paul Scholes! What a wonderful moment for player and club. Nani's cross is blocked by the sliding Wheater but the ball falls nicely for Rooney, who plays the ball square across the face of goal and finds Scholes lurking at the back post. He turns in for a 1-0 lead.
    • 39' Nigel Reo-Coker trips Nani 25 yards from goal and Rooney takes the free-kick, only to see his dipping effort fly into the arms of Bogdan in the Bolton goal.
    • 22' WHAT A SAVE! Stunning stop from Bogdan! He flings himself full stretch to the right and tips the ball round the post!
    • 21' PENALTY TO UNITED! Knight trips Welbeck and that is blatant.
    • 17' From the corner Rooney rises high some 12 yards from goal and directs a header past Bogdan, but his effort is cleared off the line by the man stationed on the near post, Davies.
    • 16' Rooney goes close! The forward first plays in Welbeck when charges into space to receive the ball back from his team-mate. His fierce effort deflects behind for a corner.
    • 7' Rooney plays in Valencia with another lovely pass down the right. He checks inside his man but opts against shooting with his left foot and instead darts to the touchline to whip in a low cross that David Wheater gets a foot to and clears.
    • 5' A great chance for United! Michael Carrick releases Danny Welbeck with a quite brilliant through-ball and the young forward sees his firm effort palmed behind by Adam Bogdan.
    • 2' Excellent work from Wayne Rooney as he holds onto the ball in the centre of the pitch and feeds Nani on the left. He charges forward and with Gretar Steinsson standing off he takes a touch before bending a shot wide of the post.
    • 14.25 TEAMS: Man Utd: Lindegaard, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck. Subs: De Gea, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, Pogba. /// Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Wheater, Knight, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Mark Davies, Ngog. Subs: Lynch, Sanli, Kevin Davies, Klasnic, Pratley, Boyata, Riley.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.6 6
      Defenders
      7.5 7
      7.3 6
      6.6 5
      7.5 7
      Midfielders
      Goal 7.6 8
      Goal Substitution Out69′ 8.2 9
      8.1 8
      Substitution Out69′ 7.6 7
      Strikers
      7.4 7
      Goal Substitution Out78′ 7.7 8
      Subs
      Substitution In69′ 7.6 7
      Substitution In69′ 7.1 6
      Substitution In78′ 7.3 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.8 8
      Defenders
      4.7 5
      4.4 6
      Yellow Card 4.1 6
      4.4 5
      Midfielders
      4.4 6
      Substitution Out80′ 4.2 5
      Substitution Out69′ 5 5
      Substitution Out88′ 5.5 6
      Strikers
      5 7
      4.6 5
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ 4.2 5
      Substitution In88′ 4.1 6
      Substitution In69′ 4.3 6

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