Two Hat-Tricks In A Roo

Bolton line-up: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Boyata, Knight, Cahill, Reo-Coker, Eagles (Pratley, 60'), M.Davies, K.Davies (c) (Ngog, 65'), Klasnic (Tuncay, 74'), Petrov

Manchester United line-up: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans (Smalling, 60'), Evra (c), Nani, Anderson, Cleverley (Carrick, 5'), Young (Giggs, 6'), Rooney, Hernandez

Bolton's physicality was no match for Manchester United's flamboyancy and United keep up their 100% start to the season. Bolton's tactics was clear before the game as Kevin Davies publicly told everyone he was going to target the vulnerable De Gea. This turned into Bolton trying to kick United off the pitch with Petrov sliding in late on Jones and Kevin Davies catching Cleverley, both within five minutes. Unfortunately it left Cleverley with a broken foot and had to substituted immediately. But it didn't deter United and they took the lead with ten men, Cleverley hadn't been replaced yet, Nani produced the cross and the returning Hernandez used some great movement to tap it past Jaaskelainen. Kevin Davies did then go into the book on thirteen minutes for another heavy this time on Ashley Young and was possibly lucky to still be on the pitch. It was soon two yellow cards as Mark Davies slid in on Nani when a counter attack looked on, Davies took one for the team. United then went two ahead on twenty minutes when Rooney toe-poked another cross into the net. Phil Jones then made a fantastic run into the box and when his shot was parried, Rooney was on hand to make it three-nil after just twenty-four minutes and some of the Bolton fans were already leaving the ground. It was nearly four when Hernandez again tapped home a Nani cross but it was rightly disallowed for offside but Bolton just couldn't find any stimulus for attack. The only real chance Bolton had was a Klasnic shot that De Gea acrobatically punched away. There was a little worry for United when Jones jumped for the same ball as Nani and the defender caught the winger, there was a blood injury but Nani was able to get patched up and continue.

Bolton started better in the second half and began playing some decent football. Their end shots didn't really trouble De Gea but did force him into action to prevent a Bolton consolation. Hernandez should have made it four when De Gea's long kick forced Jaaskelainen to control it outside the box, Hernandez tackled him but took too long to shoot and it was cleared for a corner. The resulting corner went short and Nani made a burst into the box before theatrically hitting the floor, the ball fell to Carrick whose shot deflected into the path of the unmarked Hernandez and this time he did make it four after fifty-eight minutes. Bolton almost got their consolation a minute later when Reo-Coker hit the bar but that was the closest Bolton would get to scoring. It was then five-nil after sixty-seven minutes when another Nani run down the wing allowed him to cut back the ball to where Rooney was waiting to score his second successive hat-trick. There were chances for United to score a sixth but Bolton refused access as United remain on top of the league with twelve points from twelve and a goal difference of plus fifteen.