17th October vs Bolton. 2-1....Part I

In the 2 games I've attempted the ever-formulaic, routine convention of 'predict the result', it’s safe to say that I probably won't be running to Ladbrokes any time soon to place bets on the seasons remaining fixtures. After only 7 minutes against Sunderland, my 2-0 prediction went cock-up as Bent turned Jonny-O and squeezed his shot past Foster's post to give Sunderland a lead; and yesterday, after scoring 2 with only a third of the game gone, I thought my 2-0 prediction (well, 2-0's a safe bet really, isn't it?) was again going to be wiped right out as we took complete control of this game and dominated possession. We created chance after chance; Valencia confident on the wing, Evra attacking the left as powerfully and convincingly as ever, Berbatov's delicacy on the ball was constantly potent and dangerous, and generally, Bolton posed very little threat; happy to sit back and absorb the United attack, until, eventually, it would surely be too strong to withhold any more pressure.

The opening goal was coming after only a few minutes of football had been played. We harassed and pounded the Bolton defence as if we were fighting for an equaliser with only a minute left of play. However, rather refreshingly, we instead started brightly rather than relying on late goals and the half-time hairdryer; oozing the sort of Championship-winning ambition that the Manchester United of previous campaigns usually demands, yet has been somewhat absent so far in this one. Evra's powerful run and cross into the box found Owen, who's miss-placed header fumbled in off Knight. Not pretty, yet it was the aggression and confidence in attack that contributed to the goal rather than the finish that was impressive – although this (og) player seems to be alright; in fact, I'm pretty sure (og) is our second top scorer after Rooney this season! And I don't think he cost us (or is costing us) as much as some of our other goal-shy strikers.

The first half only got better, with an increase in productive - rather than wasteful - possession being the difference between the two sides. Bolton weren't great in the first half, but only because we didn't let them play; and it was extremely positive to see the majority of this work and fluid movement being performed on the wings, to prove Ferguson’s 4-4-2 DOES work. Giggs and Evra's link-up play contributed to the first goal and continued to prove successful (unlike the relationship between Patrice and a certain Michael Jackson circa Thriller lookalike), while Valencia effectively dominated the half. His pace was too much for any full-back to take; yet it was his equally lightening-quick turn and change of direction which fooled the defence. From bombing down the wing towards the touchline, to then turning the defenders to allow himself more room; able to analyse the play and eventually find a man - which he did so to a high level of accuracy. He was not merely restricted to the wing though, as for his goal, he was perfectly positioned in a more central role, allowing Owen to find him and Neville to overlap and set him up for a decent little finish – so it appears Neville seems to remember, and is still able to imitate, the one decent part of his game: his legendary on-field chemistry with Beckham.

A great first goal for Antonio, and again, an extremely promising passage of play from a team supposedly lacking a giant chunk of recent seasons' creative edge. The move drifted from left - with, of course, the ever-present, ever-important and ever-involved Evra starting the move - to right, and was finished with power and precision by a player who - when he's picked - enjoys himself in a red shirt.

Valencia and Evra were so outstanding that I've failed to really mention anyone else; however in a game that, as I said, should have seen us soar ahead in the goal-difference table, we gave an all-round fluid, assertive display that indicates life and genuine promise in this 'new' United side. Giggs' movement and passing, although not to the highest accuracy level he has generally shown recently, were still impressive and dynamic; especially as he and Berbatov combined rather sexily for Evans' early header that surely only God (and probably Jaaskelainen) knows how it didn't go in. And Berbatov, although not on the score-sheet, provided more Sunderland-esque acrobatics that leave us further in awe of his subtle genius, even if, for £30million, the goals come a tad too sparsely.

A promising, healthy performance that not only shot us to the top on a f**king BRILLIANT day else where in the league, but also displayed to our failing opponents-at-the-top a fluidity and natural, confident attacking threat that we have lacked so far in the league this season. Yes, the opponents were weakened, but we have played teams of equal stature yet have been out-muscled by their overly defensive strategies and closed down too easily on the attack. This time though, the team gelled to form an effective attacking unit that was able to create numerous chances from various sources…all without our season’s star player!

Good job lads.