Fergie rues neighbours from hell after Bolton scare

WHAT happened to Bolton Wanderers being friendly neighbours?

Owen Coyle’s battlers were more like neighbours from hell as Manchester United’s hopes of moving within one point of leaders Chelsea went up in smoke yesterday.

Chelsea’s surprise defeat at United’s cross-city rivals City – along with Arsenal’s shock home loss to West Brom – presented Ferguson’s side with a great chance of turning up the heat at the summit.

But on a weekend of Premier League surprises, Bolton had one of their own as they roared back from the Carling Cup exit at the hands of Burnley to give the visitors an almighty scare.

The friendly neighbours tag comes from the high number of victories United have recorded over Bolton. Ten of the previous 11 meetings between the two clubs had ended in success for Ferguson’s side. Not this time.

Yesterday, Ferguson’s team needed a landmark goal by substitute Michael Owen, the 200th of his career in England, to save them from defeat as their stuttering away form continued.

“Away from home this season we have scored seven goals and we have only got three points,” said Ferguson afterwards.

“It gives you a measure of the quality in the league. It’s a very difficult league.”

Maybe it is but that does not explain why United’s defence is unable to keep a clean sheet away from goal. Nor does not explain why Wayne Rooney continues to produce subdued performances.

Bolton have not won at home since the final day of last season.

But United were playing catch up from the fifth minute when Coyle’s side made the breakthrough after Zat Knight, who had only scored three top flight goals in three years, got ahead of Jonny Evans to divert the ball over the line following a corner.

It was a disastrous start by United, whose defending had already come under the microscope after conceding seven times in their previous five league outings.

In a frantic start, the visitors responded with efforts by Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher yet neither could beat Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Finland keeper, who was returning from a three-match suspension.

Bolton might have been tempted to sit on their lead but they poured forward, Edwin van der Sar smothering the danger after Kevin Davies got a flick that almost set up Johan Elmander.

United were clearly rattled and it required a brilliant individual run by Nani for them to draw level midway through the first half.

The Portuguese winger picked up a loose ball inside his own half before embarking on a powerful run in which he motored past three players before beating Jaaskelainen with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Bolton were by no means overawed and it required a timely challenge by Fletcher to deny the impressive Elmander after the Swedish striker had burst through the visitors defence.

United’s frustration was evident.

Rooney lasted just 16 minutes of the second half before he was replaced by Federico Macheda while a hamstring problem brought Giggs’ afternoon to a premature end.

Dimitar Berbatov, six goals in his previous five league outings, forced a fine save from Jaaskelainen before Martin Petrov’s excellent 67th-minute finish left home supporters dreaming of a first win over United since 2007.

The Bulgarian produced a sweet finish after being teed up by Kevin Davies following great vision from Chung-Yong Lee.

But Bolton were unable to hang on to their lead and three minutes after replacing Fletcher, Owen equalised with a clever back header following Nani’s free kick – a thrilling end to a great game. Yet questions over Rooney continue.

Television cameras showed him with an ice pack around his ankle soon after he had been replaced by Federico Macheda although Ferguson later shrugged off suggestions he could miss Wednesday’s Champions League game away to Valencia.

It is more than a sore ankle that’s affecting Rooney’s game. The recent newspaper allegations about his private life are clearly taking a toll on the player, so much so that even Coyle sprang to Rooney’s defence yesterday.

“What I do know is that Wayne Rooney as a footballer is an absolutely class act,” said Coyle. “I’ve always felt Manchester United and England as a country are very fortunate to have him. Anyone who is patriotic about their country, being an Englishman, wants the best for their team and I don’t think what the lad’s going through is helping him or will help his country in the long term.

“So maybe it’s time to lay off him and let him go and play his football. If you want the best for your country and your players, let the boy go and flourish because there’s no doubt he will be an absolutely class act for years to come.”