Fergie: United always accept a challenge

IT takes a brave man to stand up to Alex Ferguson in the game of verbal, psychological warfare that the Manchester United veteran brings into play every season but perhaps Owen Coyle, despite his team being picked apart with embarrassing ease, is ready to join that select band of hardly souls.

United were at their most ruthless and clinical best at the Reebok, despite the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, rested so they will be available for tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final visit to Bayern Munich.

Yes, Bolton were architects of their own downfall insofar as United’s opening goal came from a spectacular shot from Bolton left-back Jlloyd Samuel who converted Ryan Giggs’ cross into the bottom corner of his own net. But, having weathered some spirited Bolton play and relied on a superb Edwin van der Sar save to deny Fabrice Muamba, United scored three goals in 14 minutes as the game wore on and Bolton wore out.