Bolton bludgeon weak United

ALEX FERGUSON ensured that Patrice Evra was the major talking point of a deserved, if rare, defeat for his Manchester United team but the controversy surrounding the French international disguised more burning issues.

Nicolas Anelka’s well-taken 11th minute goal brought Bolton manager Gary Megson his first victory in seven attempts with his new club, an appropriate match-winner given Ferguson’s documented admiration for the striker and his past attempts to sign him.

But it was Evra’s overtly physical confrontation with Bolton’s bruising winger Kevin Davies that dominated proceedings, particularly given that Ferguson was required to watch the second half of the game from the stands after being “sent off” following an argument with referee Mark Clattenburg on the subject at the half-time whistle.