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.

Coyle’s claim, therefore, that his team had dominated for 70 minutes seemed an act of revisionism yet the Bolton manager did appear to have a stronger case when he discussed a challenge by United’s dominant defender Nemanja Vidic on his forward Johan Elmander who required four stitches in a head wound.

Referee Martin Atkinson ignored, or failed to see, what appeared a blatant elbow and, to add to Bolton’s sense of injustice, Elmander was off the field receiving treatment when Dimitar Berbatov scored a crucial second goal after Jussi Jaaskelainen had failed to hold on to Darren Fletcher’s long-range shot.

All too often, Premier League managers defer to Ferguson, refusing to make even the most vague critical comments concerning the elder statesman of the British game for fear of bringing the wrath of Fergie down upon them. Not so, Coyle.

“Vidic made a bad challenge, but that’s up to you to judge,” said Coyle. “The referee obviously hasn’t seen it, but from where I was, it looked as though he caught Johan with his elbow.

“Listen, Manchester United defended with their lives today and that was there for all to see. They had to because we knocked a lot of balls into their box and penetrated on a number of occasions. But I wouldn’t equate that Vidic incident to toughness. That’s not toughness for me.

“They are top quality, there is no doubt about that and that’s why they are the champions and why they will probably be the champions again. It is a question for Sir Alex to speak about their toughness, not me. I can only concentrate on Bolton Wanderers but it’s fair to say that Johan has a cut there.”

There had been an uneasy air about the game, even before kick-off, with Ferguson apparently going out of his way to stress that while Bolton may have a new manager, they still play the same, physical way with the ball rarely being played on the ground and a steady diet of long balls being rammed down opposition throats for 90 minutes.

At half-time, Ferguson pointed out to Atkinson what he felt had been a deliberate elbow by Bolton defender Sam Ricketts on Nani late in the opening period.

“I said to the ref, ‘it’s supposed to be a game of football.’ It’s hard to play against,” said Ferguson. “I thought there were a lot of aerial challenges that didn’t go our way but the referee handled it as best he could. It must be difficult.”

Coyle claimed he had not heard Ferguson’s post-match comments and, in any case, was in no mood to be intimidated by his opponent.

“I never heard it, but whatever anybody else wants to say, they can say it. I don’t bother with that,” said Coyle. “I think we now have different facets to our game and that was shown today.

“What people want to say is up to them, but I know what I’m doing here and we are progressing. We were bottom three when I came in and we haven’t spent any money, but we have managed to elevate ourselves to a better position.”

Cutting out individual errors would help Bolton elevate themselves to an even better position although, as the home side pressed forward, the third and fourth goals were always likely to come, especially with the impressive Nani torturing Ricketts.

The Portuguese winger picked out Berbatov for the third goal after tricking his way into the area and did a similar job in finding substitute Darron Gibson for a fourth goal that helped United’s goal difference, no small concern given the way in which Chelsea have been scoring over the past week.

Indeed, Chelsea’s stunning seven-goal victory over Aston Villa immediately preceded the game at the Reebok although Ferguson insisted it did not add any extra pressure on his experienced team. “Chelsea didn’t put pressure on us at all,” he said. “It’s only when you see the turnaround in goal difference over the past four days – they got five against Portsmouth, seven against Villa. It’s a challenge. They’ve thrown the gauntlet down and Manchester United will always accept it.”

MATCH RATING: **** – A really full-blooded, meaningful, end-of-season affair in which many questions were asked of United and the would-be champions responded.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire) 8 – Yes, he missed a Vidic elbow on Elmander but turned a blind ear to Ferguson moaning about Bolton’s physical style and didn’t issue a single card.