Wolves 0-1 Manchester United
Dimitar Berbatov failed to get on the score-sheet for Manchester United
Saturday, 06, Mar 2010 07:19
By Matthew Champion.
A Manchester United side missing Wayne Rooney underlined their Premier League credentials by digging out an invaluable three points at Wolves in an uninspiring 1-0 victory that sent them back to the top of the table.
United veteran Paul Scholes grabbed the only goal of the game midway through the second half to achieve a personal landmark of 100 Premier League goals.
England talisman Rooney was rested after his exertions for the national side in the midweek exacerbated a slight knee injury.
Playing in their first match since winning the Carling Cup final last weekend, United were forced to play Dimitar Berbatov up front by himself after the news that Michael Owen would play no further part this season following a hamstring injury sustained at Wembley.
But at Molineux today Sir Alex Ferguson's team put in a disjointed and dispirited performance, underlining the importance of Rooney to the Premier League champions, who are chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.
With Berbatov ploughing an increasingly lonely furrow United were forced to shoot from range as an uncharacteristically-organised Wolves repelled one uninspired attack after another.
For a long time it looked like United would fail to score in a league game for the first time since December, but Wolves hearts were finally broken in the 73rd minute when the venerable Scholes prodded home past Marcus Hahnemann for his 100th Premier League goal.
The win sees United jump to first after briefly being sent down to third by Arsenal's 3-1 win against Burnley earlier in the day. Chelsea, who have now played one game less than either the Red Devils or Gunners, are second with 61 points from 28 games.