3 points. Thank goodness. And by all accounts, I reckon we deserved them.
A goal inside five minutes always helps, I suppose, yet it arose from the most unfortunately comical circumstances. Having received an inch-perfect cross from Patrice Evra, all Michael Owen had to do was make a half decent connection and it was likely to result in a goal. He didn't manage it; but Zat Knight was still intent on helping out. Knight realised the ball was being directed at him and he had to make an effort to clear his lines. He failed. Somehow, his contact with the ball resulted in it being directed back between his legs and into the corner of the net. 1-0. In the moments that followed, there could easily have been two, three, or even four more. Evans had a header cleared off the line and then the post, next to Owen, Berbatov and Giggs who all had shots blocked or saved up until Antonio Valencia lashed home for the second.
But now let me talk about the two players who have lit up Manchester United's play this year. The 35-year-old Welsh wizard who doesn't know the meaning of age, and the brooding Bulgarian whose lack of apparent desire is made up for with the sheer tenacity of his play. I'll start with Berbatov. He was at the centre of everything good about United yesterday, and this has been much the same for the duration of the season so far. I am annoyed at the fact he doesn't get as many goals as he deserves, only three in ten games so far this year, and was denied spectacularly by an in-form Jussi Jaaskelainen on two occasions. The flicks and tricks, backheels and intricate passes all contribute towards the positive impact he has on the team. Owen, Rooney and co. must thoroughly enjoy playing alongside the Bulgarian captain; he is certainly a joy to watch.
And then there's Ryan Giggs. You just run out of words to describe him. The pace, close-control, dribbling and brain are still as good as they ever have been. Giggs is capable of beating his man and putting the cross in as any winger should do (a fine example to Nani who - thank goodness - played no part on Saturday). He gave the Bolton backline so much to think about that their minds were probably full of Ryan Giggs by the time they left Old Trafford. Credit to the manager as well; Sir Alex Ferguson is using him extremely wisely, in general only letting him play anything near 90 minutes every other week, which means he is easily able to reproduce this sort of form every time he plays. It must be said there was no Rooney, Fletcher or Vidic in the matchday squad for one reason or another, but boy do we need it, most of the time. He provides something unique, what we cannot get out of any player, and whatever he does, he does well.
It should have been an awful lot more than two, and if we continue to miss that amount of chances (bar the occasional bit of outstanding goalkeeping) in matches then we won't be in a position to challenge for the title come May. Also of concern is the fact we have let in nine league goals in nine league games - neither is this good enough. However, now that Edwin van der Sar is back in the side and Rio Ferdinand regaining his fitness, I'd be surprised if this remained a problem for much longer.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, both Villa, Wigan and a beach ball did United many favours over the weekend, contributing to Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool all dropping valuable points at the hands of clubs who they'd normally be expecting to beat. So I'd have thought that none of the title contenders will be happy bunnies come Monday when training resumes.
Looking ahead, United revisit the scene of their Moscow triumph on Wednesday where I fully expect Ferguson to utilise his squad ahead of a big trip to Anfield next Sunday. For the record, here's what I reckon he'll do: van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Nani, Scholes, Carrick, Valencia, Owen and Berbatov (edited due to new injuries). This will give a currently unfit Evra, Vidic, Park, Fletcher and Rooney the very best chance to be fit for a game where we will need them most. Bring on the Scouse and their beach balls.
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