After a Jloyd Samuel own goal gifted the Reds a half-time lead, Dimitar Berbatov made certain of three big points with his first league brace for United. Darron Gibson then added a late fourth goal after coming on as a substitute.
The margin of victory was no more than the champions deserved, having dictated proceedings with the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs pulling the strings and Nani and Antonio Valencia stretching the play on the opposite flanks.
Darren Fletcher was also heavily involved, almost creating the opener with a similar cross to his assist against Liverpool – only this time it yielded not a header from Park, but a wonderful volley by Berbatov, well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Fletcher laid the ball off to Jonny Evans when the ensuing corner wasn’t cleared but the Irishman, in for Rio Ferdinand, couldn’t keep his shot down and Bolton breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the best chance of the first half-hour was for the home side, when Jack Wilshere – on loan from Arsenal – played Elmander into the left-hand channel. The big Swede looked odds-on to score but his powerful shot was beaten away by the strong hand of Edwin van der Sar.
Ryan Giggs was revelling in his first start since mid-February and he was unlucky not to hit the target after teeinghimself up with an exquisite first touch at the edge of the area. The misfortune was all Bolton’s, though, when Berbatov won a header, Nani hooked the ball on and Giggs delivered a left-wing cross that Jloyd Samuel comically sidefooted into his own net. Fletcher and Valencia were sniffing around but there could be no excuses for the ex-Villa defender – this was a howler of the highest order.
Also from the top drawer was the next save from van der Sar; the Dutchman flew to his right and flicked away Fabrice Muamba’s tremendous rising shot. A world-class stop, it denied what would have been an instant leveller from Owen Coyle’s men.
If the defence were indebted to van der Sar, the reverse was true when the Dutchman was slow in coming back onto the field following the award of a Bolton corner. He wasn’t in position for the set piece but the Reds closed ranks to prevent an embarrassing equaliser.
Sir Alex was irate at referee Martin Atkinson as the teams left the field at the interval, apparently after an unpunished aerial challenge by Ricketts left Nani clutching his face.
The Reds started the second half strongly and might have swiftly doubled the lead had Berbatov not slipped inside the area after some neat play by Scholes. The Bulgarian stayed on his feet to set up Fletcher with a one-two; the Scot’s shot went inches wide.
The battles in the skies continued, and Bolton had a man off the field for treatment – Elmander injured in a clashwith Vidic – when United moved further in front. Giggs was again involved in the goal, by threading a pass through to Fletcher. The latter unleashed not the fiercest of shots, but all Jaaskelainen could do was deflect the ball into Berbatov’s path and give the Bulgarian the simplest of tap-ins.
Two-nil - home and hosed? If not then, United certainly were nine minutes later when Nani tormented Ricketts with some lovely footwork on the left flank and pulled the ball back for Berbatov to stab in his second and the Reds’ third strike.
“United, top of the league,” chorused the vocal away fans, even before the flourish of a fourth goal. The creator was the same, Nani bewitching Ricketts once more before squaring it for Darron Gibson to crash a shot in off the keeper’s hands and the crossbar. The scorer had been on the pitch for less than two minutes as a substitute.
The Reds had answered Sir Alex’s call for goals, but more importantly regained top spot from rampant Chelsea, ahead of next Saturday’s showdown at Old Trafford. Bring it on.