Man Utd 3 Bolton 0

PAUL SCHOLES was on the scoresheet as Manchester United sealed a comfortable win over Bolton. The United legend turned home Wayne Rooney's cross-shot to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. Rooney had already missed a spotkick after Zat Knight brought down Danny Welbeck. Owen Coyle's side battled on but the game was over as Welbeck and Michael Carrick netted late on. Trotters keeper Adam Bogdan was in for a busy afternoon as he turned away Welbeck's first-time shot. David Wheater hacked clear after Antonio Valencia had tried to pick out Nani or Welbeck with a cut-back from the by-line. Scholes caught Mark Davies with a high tackle, but referee Peter Walton was in lenient mood though and opted not to produce a card. Rooney's powerful shot was deflected wide by Sam Ricketts, then, after Valencia had whipped over the corner, Davies was on hand to clear the striker's header off the line. It seemed certain United would score on their next attack as Welbeck got to Valencia's pass, only to get shoved over in the box by Knight. The Bolton defender was booked as Rooney strode up to take the spotkick, but just as at Manchester City last weekend, the effort was saved. And this time Bogdan was able to push it from the danger of a rebound. Bolton took heart from Bogdan's heroics, although former United man Chris Eagles screwed his shot wide. Rooney then sent his half-volley high over the bar after Nani had found him with an accurate nod-down at the far post. Scholes was off target with a long-range effort, before, more by accident than design, Wheater got in the way of a through-ball from the midfielder that would have sent Welbeck clean through. Bogdan was having an inspired game, denying Rooney twice and then Welbeck, but there was nothing he could do to stop Scholes from breaking the deadlock just before half-time. Rooney hit a cross-shot across goal and the ball ran through for the 37-year-old veteran to fire in at the far post. Bolton wasted an excellent opportunity after the break when United's defence got themselves into a tangle, which allowed Davies to race into the area. He found David Ngog but with an unmarked Martin Petrov screaming for a lay-off, the former Liverpool man scooped his shot high over the bar. Bogdan pushed a Valencia cross away from Welbeck at the other end before Rooney snatched at a decent chance and his shot rolled wide. Davies did well to shrug aside Welbeck, who had looked favourite to reach Nani's through ball first. Valencia created another golden chance for the Red Devils when he streaked into the area and drilled a low cross to the far post where Rooney, at full stretch, pushed it wide of an open goal. Bolton immediately countered and Rafael had to throw himself in the way of Petrov's shot to prevent United's goal coming under threat. Jonny Evans then slid in to prevent Nigel Reo-Coker crossing and from a second corner, Rafael was well placed to head Gretar Steinsson's flicked header off the line. United finally got the goal that killed off the game, as Rooney found Welbeck who shot beneath Bogdan. And Carrick added some gloss onto the scoreline with a delicate strike in the 83rd minute.