Sir Alex Ferguson may have had to spend the second half of this match watching from the stands, but it was Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from the United bench that cost the champions the more dearly. Few would argue that their talismanic forward deserved a rest after scoring 10 goals in his last 11 games or that Bolton - in theory - were obvious opponents against whom to take that rest, but why leave him out completely, particularly when Wayne Rooney was injured? That's what United fans must have been asking themselves afterwards.
How they needed his Midas touch front of goal yesterday. United made the mistake of underestimating Bolton and paid the price. They started the match not unlike an England team who expect the opposition to roll over. But the days of Wanderers doing that seem to be past: they are now unbeaten in four league games since Gary Megson succeeded Sammy Lee, but this was his first win in charge - and what a match to get it in!
By the time United had discovered some passion and purpose, they were chasing the game and Bolton hung on for a deserved victory which took them out of the bottom three. Coincidentally, the man who enabled Arsenal to move three points clear of United at the top of the table was the former Gunner, Nicolas Anelka, whom Ferguson has tried to buy on a few occasions and apparently will be trying to hire again come the January transfer window.
The last time Bolton beat United at home Frank Worthington was plying his trade - ah, happy days of skill and technique. Neutrals and United fans alike had hoped that the English champions would restore a bit of national pride after the humiliation of midweek and Ferguson had even expressed hopes on the eve of the match of his side entering their "golden period" of the season when they traditionally kick on. Instead the opposite was true.
For a team who have rattled four goals past Bolton in three of their last four meetings, United were surprisingly shot-shy. In the first half, they did not have a single shot on target, in fact they barely had a shot. And even when they did rouse themselves in the second half, they never caused Jussi Jaaskelainen in goal any great distress. The Finn has had to deal with a lot greater pressure this season.
Any hopes Rio Ferdinand might have had of putting the European Championship debacle swiftly behind him weren't helped by boos from the Bolton crowd right from the start whenever he touched the ball. And cries of "Argentina" from the travelling United fans whenever Tevez did got short shrift from the home fans.
From the early minutes Danny Guthrie, on loan from Liverpool, had been a lively threat to United and when Patrice Evra fouled him just outside the box in the 12th minute it proved decisive. Ivan Campo's little chip into the area would have been meat and drink to the absent Nemanja Vidic and should have been to Gerard Pique, his deputy. But inexplicably the Spaniard chose to step forward leaving Anelka completely unmarked and as a result the ball sailed over his head.
The Frenchman doesn't need much space at the best of times and here had plenty in which to chest the ball down and fire it home on the turn. Anelka is as much a talismanic figure for Bolton as Ronaldo is for United and has now scored seven of his team's 12 league goals this season. "Because of the quality that he's got and the person he is, he's always going to take the headlines," said Megson. "What pleases me is that the other players at the club accept that, which from a team perspective is fantastic."
Things could have got quickly worse for United. Other referees might have sent Evra off when he flicked out a foot at Kevin Davies three minutes after the goal but Mark Clattenburg did not even show him a yellow card. Ferguson might have done well to bear that in mind when he had his half-time rant at the referee who banished him to the stands. Davies and the Frenchman had enjoyed a running feud for most of the first half.
With the Brazilian Andersson on for Pique after an hour, it seemed United would scramble away from the Reebok with an undignified draw, especially when a cross from Evra found Tevez unmarked three yards out. But the Argentine, just back from international duty and looking slightly jaded, somehow steered his shot wide of goal.
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