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| Bolton Wanderers' David Wheater and Manchester United's Javier Hernandez slide for the ball |
Holden Injury And Late Loss Pile Misery On Bolton
Manchester United ended their run of
consecutive losses in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win
against a resilient Bolton Wanderers with a late goal coming from
Dimitar Berbatov.
It took until late in the second half for the
ball to hit the net with Bolton managing to stifle the hosts effectively
in the first half, but United eventually broke the visitors down with a
goal from Berbatov in the 87th minute. The match started lively with
both sides looking to attack, but it was the visitors who went close
first after good, strong play from John Elmander in the United box, but
when the ball fell to Fabrice Muamba, he couldn’t get it on target.
United went close a few moment later as Rooney let rip from 30 yards
with the shot whistling past the post, and had it been on target, Jussi
Jaaskelainen would’ve been beaten.
The hosts’ next chance came in the 10th minute as Nani
crossed from the left with Wes Brown knocking a header back across the
penalty area towards Javier Hernandez whose shot appeared to bounce up
and hit Gary Cahill’s arm, but the referee waved away any penalty
claims.
The match calmed down prior to the penalty shout with United
appearing to take their foot of the gas a bit, however it was them again
who had the next opportunity with Nani doing well down the left before
putting in a low cross towards Hernandez, but David Wheater was
shadowing the Mexican and put the ball out for a corner.
In the 26th minute the visitors could well have taken the
lead as a shot from Martin Petrov ricocheted off a defender and found
its way all the way into the United box where Daniel Sturridge attempted
to connect with it acrobatically from nine yards, but completely missed
the ball.
A brilliant move by United nearly ended with a Hernandez goal.
Valencia played in Rooney who was bursting into the box before cutting
the ball back towards the Mexican who couldn’t quite find the target
from six yards, but was close.
Rooney went close from distance again in the 39th minute
after a good inter-change of play with Nani coming inside off the right
that ended with a defensive block, but the Englishman latched on to the
block smashing a shot just over, and it probably should’ve been on
target.
The second half started with Berbatov and Fabio da Silva entering
the fray for Hernandez and Wes Brown respectively, but it was Nani who
was causing Bolton the most amount of trouble during the early moments,
but United failed to carve open any real chances despite dominating
possession.
In the 63rd minute, Michael Carrick did very well prevent a
Bolton goal as Johan Elmander did brilliantly to hold off Jonny Evans
with the ball then breaking loose to Kevin Davies who struck the
goalwards only for Carrick to block the shot.
Substitute Berbatov went close in the 71st minute as
United kept possession well before the ball found its way to Rooney who
laid it off for the Bulgarian who shot first time for the top corner,
but it ended up going just wide.
Moments later Berbatov found himself in a foot race with Gary Cahill
bearing down on the goal and just when the Bulgarian looked to shoot,
the England international produced a fantastic tackle.
However, things went bad for both sides in the 77th minute
as Jonny Evans received a straight red card for a callous foul on
Stuart Holden, but the American had to be stretchered off, with Evans
having few complaints about the decision.
Despite going down to ten men, it was United who continued to press,
with Patrice Evra at times the only player in their own half and Rooney
went close on 83 minutes after good build up with Nani before cutting
inside and shooting towards the near post, but the England
international’s strike was saved by Jaaskelainen.
Bolton really should have taken the lead in the 84th
minute however after a good cross from the right was met by the head of
Matty Taylor who was unmarked, but he headed it straight at Edwin Van
der Sar.
United finally took the lead in the 87th minute however as
Nani cut inside from the right and unleashing a shot, but Jaaskelainen
couldn’t hold on to it with Dimitar Berbatov ready to
pounce and the Bulgarian notched his 20th league goal of the
season.
The last five minutes saw Nani go close once again, but United
carried on pressing and held on for a vital three points.
Appendix :
Bolton Wanderers' Gretar Steinsson and Manchester United's Nani in
action
Manchester United's Antonio Valencia and Bolton Wanderers' Paul Robinson
in action
Manchester United's Jonny Evans fouls Bolton Wanderers' Stuart Holden
before being sent off
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill in
action
others match result :
Tottenham (0) vs (0) West Ham
Aston Villa (0) vs (1) Wolves
Blackburn (2) vs (2) Blackpool
Stoke (4) vs (0) Newcastle
West Bromwich (2) vs (2) Arsenal
Wigan Athletic (2) vs (1) Birmingham
Everton (2) vs (1) Fulham
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