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Rooney And Chicharito Run Riot: Bolton 0 United 5

Wayne Rooney hit a hat-trick and Javier Hernandez scored twice as an irresistible Manchester United outclassed and outfought Bolton to go top of the Premier League.

It was a great performance again by United’s youngsters which must have left Premier League teams and managers scratching their heads as to just how they are going to have to play to try and stop our beautiful brand of football so far this season.

Bolton’s captain Kevin Davies in the build-up to the game had spoken about how his team were going to give United’s young stars – David De Gea and Phil Jones – a ‘going over’ and put them under severe pressure from crosses.

Those remarks reaffirmed Davies’ aggressive-playing style and it was really no surprise that the first talking-point of the game saw him foul one of our younger players. The challenge the forward made in the fourth minute on Tom Cleverley was a nasty one and it was a surprise that he didn’t get booked.

Perhaps it was because it was the first challenge made in the game, but it was a yellow-card offence. The challenge was one that Cleverley failed to recover from and he would later be substituted halfway through the half for Michael Carrick. It was a blow for the midfielder who appeared to have suffered a damaged ankle.

The only comfort that our fans could take from the substitution was that when it occurred United had all but wrapped the game up at 2-0 up. Hernandez bagged the opener a minute after Davies’ foul on our no.23 coolly steering in Nani’s cross at the near post after a great bit of movement that his marker Gary Cahill could do little about.

Bolton though had their chances to get back on level terms but Chris Eagles saw a crisp shot cleared off the line by Rooney after a Martin Petrov cross wasn’t cleared properly before De Gea made a brilliant save to keep out a fierce Ivan Klasnic drive from outside the box.

Barley a minute after De Gea’s save, United doubled the lead when Rooney poked in a Phil Jones cross from the right getting ahead of his marker Dedryck Boyata. Poor Jussi Jaaskelainen in goal stood no chance. With Ashley Young and Nani looking dangerous going forward, the fans could sense that United would get a third.

Four minutes later Rooney got his second to make it 3-0 following a swashbuckling run in midfield from Phil Jones who stormed past three players. Although his shot was blocked by Jasskelainen, the ball fell to Rooney who comfortably stroked the ball in.

After the restart Jaaskelainen was in the thick of the action again. Not long after the Finnish keeper spilled a Nani corner, he tipped an Anderson free-kick from the left past the post.

Bolton were looking ragged and a long clearance by De Gea (whose distribution across the whole game was exceptional) caused Jaaskelinen problems when Hernandez nicked the ball past him. Luckily for the Finn who was making his 513th appearance for Bolton, Zat Knight was there to clear the Mexican’s shot of the line.

It was a just a moment of respite for the hosts as Hernandez deservedly grabbed his second, comfortably stroking home at the far post when Carrick’s shot deflected into his path.

With the game won Sir Alex Ferguson brought on Ryan Giggs and Chris Smalling for Ashley Young and Jonny Evans. Bolton though to their manager’s credit were still looking to get on the score-sheet. A good effort by Reo-Coker brought out a fantastic save by De Gea who tipped the former Aston Villa man’s shot onto the bar.

The personal battle between Rooney and Hernandez to get a hat-trick was won by the Englishman when he clinically caressed a shot into the far corner after being found in space by Nani who in turn had received the ball following a terrific 25-yard ball by Giggs deep in the heart of midifled.

Hernandez almost grabbed a hat-trick himself but couldn’t quite stretch enough to convert a Rooney cross in at the back post. It didn’t matter though as it had been (bar Cleverley’s injury) the perfect day which saw United retake the lead at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City and Rooney take over from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero in the race for the golden boot.

United: De Gea, Evra, Evans (Smalling), Ferdinand, Jones, Nani, Anderson, Cleverley (Carrick), Young (Giggs), Rooney, Hernandez

Star Man

Rooney was simply sensational and looks to be in the form of his life, a year on from when he looked in the worst form of his life. He is revelling in the responsibility he has up top and looks a threat from anywhere on the pitch. Aside from his hat-trick yesterday his block to keep out Chris Eagles’ shot was an important moment of the game. His partnership with Hernandez is just getting better by the game.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87

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