Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Manchester United

The pressure was on United anyway having to play after both Chelsea and Arsenal, but after the rentboys 7-1 hammering of Villa, United had to respond. With no Rooney and no Ferdinand even on the bench, this was no formality. But respond they did with a cracking performance. Berbatov seems to enjoy playing up front on his own and yesterday was no exception as he continued his good form. It may have took a soft own goal to put us in front but they had been playing well if not quite threatening the Bolton goal as much as we would have liked. Jonny Evans had missed probably our best effort following a goalmouth melee. Bolton couldn't get in the game as Scholes and Giggs rolled back the years to give us a masterclass in keeping the ball. Van Der Sar wasn't completely idle though and had to make a couple of saves in the first half the second of which was absolutely sensational. As usual in a game at Bolton it was no place for the faint hearted and Vidic and Evans stood up to the challenge pretty well.
United continued the good form into the second half keeping possession and making it hard for the home team. And when the second goal went in it was time for United to really open up. Fletcher was in the thick of it as usual and it was his shot that was well saved by Jaaskaleinen but he couldn't stop the Bulgarian Berbatov from tucking home the rebound. Nani who had another fine game then beat his man and crossed for Berbatov to slot the ball home to make it 3-0. When Nani beat his man again he fed the substitute Gibson who had only just come on to fire home the fourth. Three goals in just under quarter of an hour was just what the doctor ordered after Chelsea's goalfest against Villa.
So we go into a crucial week in fine fettle with the news that Bayern got beat and that Robben went off injured and may be doubtful for the game on Tuesday. Two good results and we will be looking at another memorable season, here's hoping.


Fergie is in a positive mood ahead of the game in Munich on Tuesday and he is after away goals.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/7530544/Bayern-Munich-v-Manchester-United-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-urges-all-out-attack-at-Allianz-Arena.html

UEFA lays out its plans for the future of football
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7078254.ece

Patrcik Barclay doesn't think they will Anglo Spanish dominance of the Champions league that we have at the moment.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7078131.ece

Fun and games at the hammers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/26/west-ham-gianfranco-zola-david-sullivan
I had thought that Pompey, Burnley and Hull were certs to go down but the growing dysfunctional relationship between Zola and the cockney spivs looks like its dragged West Ham into the mix. If they get relegated it will be down to Gold and Sullivan, and that would be poetic justice.

Chris Mcgreal asks is Nancy Pelosi the most powerful woman in American history
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/26/nancy-pelosi-politician-speaker

Are the republicans in disarray?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7077888.ece

Armando Ianucci tells the Beeb to tell Murdoch where to get off.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/26/murdoch-armando-iannucci-bbc

The Independent questions the Guardian's editor Alan Rusbridger
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/is-the-guardian-beating-its-head-against-a-paywall-1928815.html

Howard Jacobson on form yesterday
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/howard-jacobson/howard-jacobson-one-by-one-the-socalled-pillars-of-our-civilisation-tumble-shamefully-1928767.html

Dubstep