United overcome brave Bolton

Ronaldo: On target

Man of the match: Cristiano Ronaldo. A brilliant performance in his first league start since May.

Moment of the match: Rob Styles' decision to award a penalty to United after Jlloyd Samuel won the ball from Ronaldo with a great tackle.

Attempt of the match: Anderson's curling effort from the edge of the area in the first half which forced Jaaskelainen into a fine save

Save of the match: Jaaskelainen made a number of magnificent stops but the pick of the bunch was late on as he sprang to his right to deny Nani.

Talking point: What would the outcome have been had Styles made the correct decision?

Goal of the game: Rooney finished supremely after a clever back-heel from Ronaldo to seal the points for United.

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Manchester United were awarded a controversial penalty as they ran out 2-0 winners at home to Bolton.

Manchester United were frustrated in a goalless first half as Bolton defended bravely to restrict them to ambitious shots from distance, and it was the visitors who should have been ahead at the break after Fabrice Muamba missed a glorious opportunity from close range.

The key moment arrived on the hour mark when Jlloyd Samuel appeared to win the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo with a superb tackle, but referee Rob Styles pointed to the penalty spot.

Ronaldo, on his first league start since May, stepped up to score and United cruised through to full-time with Wayne Rooney adding a splendid second after more good work from the Portuguese winger.

Adventurous

For a start, Bolton were not as unadventurous as many believed and when, after about 15 minutes, United did get into their stride, they found it difficult to break through a hard-working defence, aided superbly by the midfield industry of Gavin McCann.

Jussi Jaaskelainen was called upon on half a dozen occasions but most of his saves would be regarded as routine for the Finn, including the low Ronaldo free-kick he kept out at his near post.

Ronaldo took plenty of responsibility for United's goal search on his shoulders but while Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov tried hard, there was no sense of a partnership between the pair.

The only time they were involved in anything meaningful was when they helped set up Rio Ferdinand. But the centre-half bounced his half-volley straight at Jaaskelainen.

Attacking force

Bolton could not claim to have posed even half the threat United had done. But they had established themselves as an attacking force long before Muamba was presented with the best opportunity either side had to break the first-half deadlock.

As a former pupil of Arsene Wenger's at Arsenal, Muamba could at least have been expected to force Edwin van der Sar into a save when Gretar Steinsson's low cross rolled invitingly into his path after Ferdinand had slid in with Kevin Davies at the near post.

Inexplicably, from barely 10 yards, the England Under 21 international was so badly off target his shot nearly rolled out for a throw-in.

Having got trips to Liverpool and Chelsea out of the way during an incredibly tough start to the season, now Ferguson was expecting his team to start winning.

But as the hour mark approached the opener still proved elusive, despite the improved efforts of Ronaldo.

Incredulity

Yet even Ferguson must have felt a bit sheepish when Styles, perfectly placed, watched Samuel make what everyone in the stadium seemed to think was a perfectly timed tackle on Ronaldo, then point to the spot as the home player hit the deck.

Bolton could not believe it. Television replays justified their incredulity. Ronaldo simply stepped up and sent Jaaskelainen the wrong way.

The introduction of Rooney and Paul Scholes came not long afterwards.

Given his desire to play every minute of every game, Rooney was presumably not happy at being left out, so there must have been an element of 'I'll show you' about his superb curling shot which found the bottom corner after a neat exchange of passes with Ronaldo 13 minutes from time.

Scholes went close to increasing United's lead at the end but by then, the damage had been done for Bolton.