Wanderers remain in the bottom three but showed some signs of fight in their defeat at Old Trafford.

Adam Bogdan saved Wayne Rooney’s penalty midway through the first half, which despite continued pressure from United, looked to be heading to a stalemate until Paul Scholes struck in injury time to register his first Premier League goal since August 2010.

Danny Wellbeck and Michael Carrick made it safe in the final stages but there was plenty to admire in performances from deputy keeper Bogdan and midfield dynamo Mark Davies that should serves the Whites well in the coming weeks.

Wanderers lived on their nerves throughout the first half, and were under pressure from the first minute, when Nani curled a shot just wide of the post.

Bogdan made his first fine save of the afternoon moments later as Michael Carrick slipped Wellbeck in only for the young keeper to make a big target and divert his shot over the crossbar.

United continued to pass and probe but Wanderers’ luck held out until the 20th minute when Antonio Valencia produced an outstanding pass to find Wellbeck, and he went tumbling down after feeling a hand from Zat Knight on his back.

The Whites defender was booked despite some protests from the home side that he was last man, but when Rooney saw his fourth penalty in eight attempts saved by Bogdan, it seemed fortune was smiling on Owen Coyle’s men.

Rooney continued a relentless pursuit for a goal and saw one header cleared off the line by Mark Davies and one dipping free kick palmed away by Bogdan before fluffing a relatively simple chance eight yards out on the half volley.

But just as it looked like Wanderers had done enough to go in level, Rooney turned provider for Scholes at the far post to completely alter the tone of Coyle’s team-talk at the break.

Perhaps the Whites’ best spell materialised immediately after the restart when Davies burst on to the loose ball and raced past Rio Ferdinand. The chance appeared to have gone when the midfielder decided not to shoot from the angle, but his quick feet pushed the ball square for Ngog who blasted over from 10 yards out.

Gretar Steinsson then had a looping header cleared off the post by Rafael after he had connected with Petrov’s corner.

United effectively killed the game off with 16 minutes remaining, however, as Wellbeck poked a shot into the bottom corner under pressure from Sam Ricketts.

Carrick then added another with a slide-rule shot from just outside the box to claw back a little more of the goal difference on neighbours Manchester City.

Sub Darren Pratley nearly pulled one back in injury time with a low shot just wide of the post but while there wer e no complaints from the Wanderers camp that United had been the better side on the day, it was the travelling fans who could be heard at the final whistle.

More application like this against the Premier League’s lesser lights wouldn’t go amiss.