Saturday 14/01/2012
Premier League
Paul Scholes makes a goalscoring return to help United back to winning ways against Bolton.
After his surprise inclusion on the bench in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City last Sunday, Paul Scholes made a return to the starting eleven for the game against Bolton. The 37 year old starting his first game since coming out of retirement. Danny Welbeck was preferred to start upfront along side Wayne Rooney as United were looking to make amends for losing their last two league games against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle.
United started on the front foot with Antonio Valencia tearing up and down the right flank, stretching the game early on. The first clear cut opportunity fell for United in the 20th minute when Zat Knight bundled over Danny Welbeck in the box to give the home side a penalty, and the perfect chance to go into the lead. However Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal guessed correctly and superbly palmed away Wayne Rooney effort to keep the scores level.
Following the miss Bolton defended well keeping United at bay, not allowing the game to flow. It looked like they had done enough to go into half time on level terms, but in the first minute of stoppage time Paul Scholes popped up at the back post to neatly finish Wayne Rooney's low cross. The goal signalled a fairy tale return to action for Scholes whilst also settling the nerves left from the saved penalty.
Bolton carried on where the left off in the second half frustrating United and even carving a few chances of their own, David N'Gog spurred a close range effort, blasting over the bar. It took until the 74th minute for United to extent their lead, when they did Danny Welbeck was on hand to poke home from 12 yards following a sublime pass from Rooney. The instinctive strike had doubled the reds lead but in the process of scoring Welbeck had injured himself and had to be replaced by Chicharito.
With the points sealed United seemed to be cruising to a 2-0 victory when Michael Carrick decided to put the icing on the cake as he stroked the ball home beautifully from just outside the box to make it three.
Missed penalty aside United deserved to take home the spoils and it could have been more if Danny Welbeck had seen a first half shot hit the back of the net and if Wayne Rooney could have converted. United move level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with City not playing until Monday, the result puts the pressure on the Blues.
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