The Red Devils found themselves three goals to the good within the first twenty five minutes as a hapless Wanderers team found themselves staring a fourth straight defeat in the face..

Park and Rooney may have converted the chances to win United the game, but it was the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo which caught the eye as the Portguese international had a hand in three of the goals and constantly tormented a Bolton side who where sloppy and indecisive in defence..

The visitors had made the somewhat bold decision to play Henrik Pedersen in place of El-Hadji Diouf, who was demoted to the role of substitute and striker Kevin Davies returned to action after a six game absence despite the fact that he didn't seem fully fit to play in a game of such pressure.

Bolton started off reasonably well within the first ten minutes and it looked as if it could be their day when Nicolas Anelka fired in a trademark angled shot in the opening sixty seconds which just flashed by Tomasz Kuszczak's right hand post.

United should have taken the lead five minutes later though through Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park. Wayne Rooney's header was fumbled by Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal and Park balooned over when it seemed much easier to hit the back of the net.

Things went slighly pear shaped for the Mancunians on nine minutes as they lost their captain Gary Neville after Bolton veteran Gary Speed landed awkwardly on the leg of the England full back despite winning the ball cleanly.

On 14 minutes United took the lead to start what was an onslaught of pressure from the hosts. The in-form Ronaldo made an incisive burst down the Bolton left beating Tal Ben-Haim for pace before delightfully cutting the ball back for the unmarked Park who this time made no mistake.

This goal seemed to knock any Wanderers enthusiasm and Sir Alex Ferguson's men added a second on 17 minutes through a deftly chipped shot from Rooney after Ronaldo had once again broken free of the Bolton defence.

Ronaldo nearly got on the scoresheet himself but it was Kevin Davies at the other end who went the closest when heading Kevin Nolan's deep free kick over the United crossbar.

Twenty minutes before the break, the game was effectively won as Manchester United added their third goal and second of the afternoon for hard working flier Park. Ronaldo wasn't closed down on the edge of the area and this allowed him all the time in the world to fire in a powerful shot which Jaaskelainen could only spill into the path of the unmarked Park.

Sam Allardyce reacted by changing his Bolton tactics and hauling off a disappointed Henrik Pedersen for El-Hadji Diouf but unfortunately the former Liverpool star could not repeat his two goal show at Old Trafford earlier in the week.

Davies headed a Gary Speed corner wide of goal just after the half hour and Ricardo Gardner missed the chance to celebrate a rare goal by firing over from distance but that was as close as Bolton got to scoring within the first forty five minutes.

The second half saw the Wanderers much hungrier to compete thanks largely to the early introduction of Andranik Teimourian who came on for Davies who clearly was a shadow of the player he usually is due to his recent injury problems.

Bolton saw much more of the ball than they had done and where unlucky not to reduce the defacit shortly after the hour when Anelka blazed the ball over from close range after Ivan Campo's long throw had caused the United defence problems.

Ronaldo still wasn't done though as on 67 minutes he produced a dangerous shot which goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had to be at full stretch with to keep the scoreline respectable.

United brought on Alan Smith for Ryan Giggs as the game reached it's final quarter and the first contribution of the former Leeds United player was to thread a pass through to the onrushing Rooney who made no mistake when one on one with Jaaskelainen - game over.

David Thompson then entered the fray for Bolton for his second appearance since his recent move from Portsmouth but the petite midfielder could do little to alter the already astronomical scoreline.

Wanderers did have some luck in the closing stages as referee Alan Wiley awarded them a penalty after Nemanja Vidic appear to shove Abdoulaye Faye in the back but Gary Speed's coversion was too little, too late.

Bolton must now pick themselves up for their home game with the ever improving Sheffield United a week on Saturday and this is then followed by a trip to local rivals Wigan Athletic.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Tal Ben-Haim, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo (David Thompson, Gary Speed, Kevin Davies (Andranik Teimourian), Nicolas Anelka, Henrik Pedersen (El-Hadji Diouf)

Subs Not Used: Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ian Walker (GK)

Manchester United: Tomasz Kuszczak, Gary Neville (Wes Brown), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Gabriel Heinze, Ji-Sung Park, Michael Carrick, John O'Shea, Cristiano Ronaldo (Alan Smith), Ryan Giggs (Kieran Richardson), Wayne Rooney

Subs Not Used: Patrice Evra, Tom Heaton (GK)

Referee:

Alan Wiley

Attendance:

76,058

Booked:

Kieran Richardson (United)

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

Ricardo Gardner (Bolton)

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS