SIR Alex Ferguson must hate the sight of Sam Allardyce and his enthusiastic players arriving at Old Trafford - the home fans certainly do! writes Chris Sudlow.

For the second time in a year Wanderers sent fans of their deadly rivals home in a complete huff.

While hundreds of United fans were streaming home long before the final whistle, Wanderers fans didn't want to leave the stadium of their hated rivals. They just cheered and cheered.

For they were celebrating yet another tremendous result against United whch has given Wanderers a winning start to a three-match shoot-out against the Premiership's biggest guns.

Now they face Liverpool at the Reebok on Saturday then seven days later travel to Arsenal - and they already have three points from fixtures which a year ago delivered seven sensational points which proved invaluable in the survival countdown.

Before the match Allardyce made no bones about how he hoped to stifle and frustrate United, who already this season have had to work hard for 1-0 home wins against stubborn West Brom and Middlesbrough teams.

But Sir Alex Ferguson was well aware of the ploy and warned his injury-hit but still multi-talented team that they may need to be patient.

"We know it is not going to be easy," the United boss said before the match. It would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall afterwards to hear what he said then!

Fergie said before the 1-0 defeat: "Every team is really determined because no-one wants to drop out of the league.

"Middlesbrough came last Tuesday and defended the whole night until the last 15 minutes when they had a few attacks. Bolton may be different to Middlesbrough and West Brom but the one common denominator is that they will come and defend very stoutly.

"It is difficult to break down those kind of defensive blankets but that is our job.

"We have enough quality, movement and speed in the team to make sure we get the chances, and if we get the chances we have the players to finish them. We just have to be patient."