Scholes fires title charge

Scholes, Welbeck and Carrick score to send United level on points

Last updated: 14th January 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wayne Rooney Penalty Manchester United vs Bolton

Wayne Rooney: Saw his first half penalty brilliantly saved by Adam Bogdan

Michael Carrick and Javier Hernandez

Michael Carrick: Congratulated by Javier Hernandez after a great finish for United's third

Danny Welbeck Manchester United vs Bolton

Danny Welbeck: Notched the second goal at Old Trafford but had to go off injured

Paul Scholes Manchester United vs Bolton

Paul Scholes: Enjoyed a dream return to Old Trafford
Man of the match: Paul Scholes.The veteran scored on his return to the Manchester United starting line-up to set his side on their way.
Goal of the match: Michael Carrick. The midfielder was picked out by Ryan Giggs and took one touch before slotting home from 25 yards into the bottom right corner. Great finish.
Shot of the match: Danny Welbeck drew a fine save from Adam Bogdan with an angled effort from the left.
Save of the match: Bogan pulled off a great stop to deny Wayne Rooney from the penalty spot midway through the first period.
Moment of the match: Scholes' goal. The United ace slotted home just before the interval to send Old Trafford into dreamland.

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Paul Scholes scored on his return to the starting line-up as Manchester United beat Bolton 3-0 to go level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Wayne Rooney saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Adam Bogdan midway in the first period after Danny Welbeck had been fouled in the box.

But Scholes, who had come out of retirement as a substitute in last Sunday's 3-2 FA Cup success over City, slotted home just before the interval.

Second-half goals from Welbeck and Michael Carrick sealed the win as United drew level on points with City, who play Wigan on Monday.

After Thierry Henry's matchwinning effort for Arsenal on Monday, it was perhaps destined that Scholes would come up with something special once he was confirmed as a member of the United starting line-up.

After a couple of cracking long-range shots, Scholes lit up Old Trafford in first-half stoppage time.

Having peeled away to the far post, he was perfectly placed to turn home a Rooney cross-shot, which Welbeck had failed to get a touch to.

It was the 151st United goal of Scholes' career, and his first since August 2010, meaning he has equalled last season's tally in just two appearances after abandoning his job coaching the club's reserve team.

Tough luck

It was tough luck on the visitors, particularly their goalkeeper Bogdan, who had performed heroics up to that point to keep the hosts out, in particular saving Rooney's penalty.

The spot-kick came when Zat Knight was beaten to Antonio Valencia's through ball by Welbeck and the Bolton defender pushed his opponent in a desperate attempt to reach the ball.

There was no debate about the penalty. However, as at Manchester City last week, Rooney's spot-kick was saved, with Bogdan diving to his right to get enough on the ball to steer it away from any possible rebound.

The young keeper's place is at risk as Jussi Jaaskelainen nears a full recovery from a thigh strain but he must have been pleased with his fine personal display, including two saves to deny Welbeck.

And with Mark Davies bundling a Rooney header off the line, Bolton were gaining in confidence, although the ease with which United got behind them explained why USA defender Tim Ream was in the stands, pending his arrival as Chelsea-bound Gary Cahill's replacement.

Bolton wasted an excellent opportunity to equalise straight after the restart when United's defence, not for the first time, got themselves into a tangle, which allowed Davies to race into the area.

He found N'Gog but with an unmarked Martin Petrov screaming for a lay-off, the former Liverpool man scooped his shot high over the bar.

This was a warning for Sir Alex Ferguson's men, although there was no immediate end to the chances being wasted.

Culprit

Rooney was again the culprit just after the hour, when Valencia burst into the box and crossed low to the far post.

In fairness to the striker, he was at full stretch as he went to turn the ball into an empty net and failed in his quest as the ball flashed narrowly wide.

If Bolton's earlier effort was a warning, Gretar Steinsson's was a heart-stopper as his flicked header from a Bolton corner looped over Anders Lindegaard.

Thankfully for the hosts, Rafael had not left his station by the far post and, just as Davies had done from exactly the same position in the first-half, ensured the goal was not breached.

United's second arrived 16 minutes from time, with Welbeck prodding his eighth goal of the season beyond Bogdan after reaching Rooney's lay-off ahead of Sam Ricketts.

The striker took a kick on the back of the leg for his pains, though, and had to be replaced by Javier Hernandez.

But it failed to interrupt the hosts' momentum and, after striding onto Giggs' square pass, Carrick curled a superb left-footed shot past Bogdan from 25 yards.

After successive defeats, it was just what United needed as a confidence booster ahead of a tough sequence of fixtures, starting at Arsenal next weekend, which are likely to determine their chances of retaining the title.

Manchester UnitedTeam StatisticsBolton Wanderers
3Goals0
11st Half Goals0
8Shots on Target1
11Shots off Target5
4Blocked Shots4
11Corners3
8Fouls7
2Offsides0
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
86.2Passing Success75.2
25Tackles20
80Tackles Success70
62.9Possession37.1
54.2Territorial Advantage45.8
535Total Passes314
35Total Crosses10
152Lost Balls146
64Recoveries43
68.51st Half Poss.31.5
56.92nd Half Poss.43.1
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Comments (5)

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Beloved Mhlanga (Manchester United fan) says...

Paul Scholes is our veteran and he has always been our veteran.His return will see us taking the premiership title again this season,we welcome you Doc Scholes

Posted 12:31 15th January 2012

Josh Alexander (Manchester United fan) says...

It was a vision of the future using some players of the past. United played some beautiful football today with great interplay coming from everyone on the park. Change Cleverley for Scholes and Smalling for Rio and you've got a team thats going to challenge any team.

Posted 08:34 15th January 2012

Austine Johnson (Manchester United fan) says...

Paul scholes come back is a big title bolster man u considering d fact dat fergie is looking for a potential mid fielder and a play maker.

Posted 06:25 15th January 2012

Luke Walker (Manchester United fan) says...

Paul Scholes scores goals...

Posted 18:20 14th January 2012

Farhang Nosrati (Manchester United fan) says...

well done guys ! get back to the summit soon

Posted 17:05 14th January 2012
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