14/01/12
There's a rumour doing the rounds that Paul Scholes was so excited when he was asked to come out of retirement that the first thing he did was spend £40 on a new pair of football boots.
It might be fact, it might be fiction. But it’s the kind of apocryphal tale about Manchester United’s born-again 37-year-old that is utterly believable.
Scholes has always led an uncomplicated existence. He lives for his family, he loves football and the club he served throughout a playing career that was supposed to have ended after last season’s Champions League Final.
But instead of reaching for his slippers and a pint of his favourite John Willie Lees bitter, the midfielder United fans call their ‘Ginger Ninja’ is back and where he belongs.
His first start since making a shock return in last week’s Manchester derby was typical Scholes. First he got lucky when referee Peter Walton decided that the hack into the stomach of Bolton’s outstanding Mark Davies was more mistimed than malicious.
And then, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men frustrated with their inability to turn their dominance into goals, he produced the kind of strike that used to be his trademark.
Ferguson said: “Paul has popped up with a goal when he should have been sitting deep controlling the game.
“But he has always had an instinct for goal. He had an eye for goal when he was a boy and he has shown us that again. When you have got the quality that Paul has you don’t lose it.
“Our first-half performance was good. We played some fantastic football. We had to wait until near half-time to get the first goal but once we did we were in a good position.”
Scholes in his pomp was a maker and taker of goals, his late runs making him impossible for defenders to detect.
When Wayne Rooney’s driven cross flew across the face of Adam Bogdan’s goal in first-half injury-time, there was Scholes to apply a typically unflustered finish.
It was his first goal since he scored against Fulham in August 2010 – and his first at Old Trafford since he found the net in a Carling Cup semi-final derby almost three years ago.
Once the home team were ahead there was little doubt that they would move level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table. At times, Scholes’ lack of match sharpness was obvious and he looked a weary man when Ferguson replaced him with Ji-Sung Park in the 69th minute. But you can be sure he already has his eyes fixed on an 11th championship medal.
Owen Coyle’s hopes that his side could play on United’s nerves were ended when Danny Welbeck produced a neat 74th-minute finish.
And Michael Carrick showed that he is returning to top form with a glorious strike seven minutes from time.
Bolton manager Coyle said: “Paul Scholes makes for a great story but not for us.
“At 1-0 we were still in the game. Man United have world-class players but for me the best player on the park was Mark Davies who was outstanding.
“My young players are getting better by the week. David Ngog, Adam Bogdan and Mark Davies continue to get better and stand us in good stead for the season.
“We’d like to bring people in and if we are able to do that and stay in the Premier League, then next summer Bolton Wanderers will be in the best position they have been in for many years.”
It looked like Bolton keeper Bogdan was in for a busy afternoon when Nani curled a shot just wide with less than a minute gone.
Bogdan denied Welbeck from Carrick’s exquisite pass and his goal led a charmed life as David Wheater intercepted Antonio Valencia’s cross and Rooney saw his header chested off the line by Davies. Bogdan excelled again when Welbeck was sent tumbling by Zat Knight’s barge and referee Walton pointed to the spot. Rooney’s aim from 12 yards was true, but the keeper leapt to his right to produce a fine save.
Rooney has now missed four of his last eight penalties.
Scholes finally got the breakthrough, but when Bolton came out after the break with more attacking intent, the home side immediately began to look uncertain.
Ngog should have done better than shoot over after fine work by Davies. Then Martin Petrov’s volley was blocked bravely by Rafael.
But once Rooney had slipped in Welbeck to slide a smart finish past Bogdan it was game over and Carrick applied the coup de grace with a wonderful left-footed curler from 25 yards.
But it wasn’t all joy for United, as Rio Ferdinand revealed after the match on Twitter.
“Wow, not feeling great,” he Tweeted. “Concussion after a clash of heads I’m told… as I don’t even remember the game! Goodnight world!”
