DISAPPOINTED at gaining only a point from a home game against Manchester United? Things sure have changed here on Walton’s Mountain.

Such was Wanderers’ performance early on a Sunday afternoon at the Reebok, it’s hard not to feel a tinge of disappointment that we are not reflecting on a second home victory over the Reds in some 32 years.

It also feels a tad harsh to be pointing the finger of blame at Johan Elmander, whose miss at 2-1 was punished in the harshest possible way by Michael Owen just 60 seconds later but who once again showed that he is a player reborn under Owen Coyle’s guidance. And he’s not the only one.

But they are the fine lines you tread when expectation levels in and outside the dressing room at the Reebok have been raised to believe you actually can get results against the Big Four, playing some good football to boot.

For a couple of seasons under Gary Megson, these games seemed almost to be written off as a damage limitation exercise, a stopgap until the next encounter with one of the smaller top-flight clubs.

These days, however, Wanderers go headlong into this kind of fixture, and while a United side in top form might well have made more of the space they were afforded at times, it is refreshing to see our near neighbours rocked back on their heels with such regularity.

Zat Knight, who opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a close-range flick, sums things up perfectly.

Lacking desperately in confidence during his five months under Megson, the big centre-half has shown the kind of form during 2010 that explains why he once forced himself into the England set-up.

Interestingly, his very best performances seem to come along in Gary Cahill’s absence when a greater degree of defensive responsibility perhaps rests on his shoulders.

And so it proved again yesterday, as Knight sent Wayne Rooney sulking off the pitch after only an hour before making sure his replacement Frederico Macheda ended up as an unnoticed extra.

Sam Ricketts, Knight’s third defensive partner of the season, was equally impressive alongside him. Next week, Coyle must decide whether to drop the Wales international and reinstate Gary Cahill after suspension – and Rooney thinks he’s got problems!

After falling behind early on, United nearly found themselves two behind when Elmander just failed to get a telling touch on Davies’s flick.

Nani dragged them back into the game, however, with a moment of brilliance on 23 minutes as he picked up the ball in his own half before powering through series of would-be challengers and drilling a low shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen – who was back in goal after suspension. At the time, the Portugal international’s goal looked to be a prelude for a spell of dominance for the visitors but, barring a few speculative efforts, Wanderers were able to hold firm until the break.

The game closed up a little in the second half, perhaps because both sides were more proficient in possession. But the Whites continued to create the better chances, and after firing one shot across the bows, Petrov restored their lead by finishing off a great flowing move just after the hour.

The Bulgaria international has yet to show his best form at the Reebok, due mainly to the fact he is still feeling his way back to full fitness after a long spell on the sidelines last season. But this was the most compelling evidence yet that he can fit in with the Wanderers work ethic – while still maintaining the attacking instincts that have always made him such a dangerous customer.

Five minutes later, and Elmander should have made it game, set and match.

Showing pace to accelerate away from Jonny Evans and a deft touch to beat Nemanja Vidic and bear down on Edwin van der Sar, the stage was set for the Swede to score a goal to better Nani’s excellent first-half effort.

But the ball appeared to sit up as he struck for goal, his shot clearing the bar by a yard and leaving Elmander clutching his head in disbelief.

His misery was compounded somewhat as Owen delivered a finishing lesson some 60 seconds later. Nani delivered a free-kick to the near post, where the former England striker evaded the attentions of Holden to flick a fine header into the net.

Elmander nearly atoned for his earlier miss by finishing off another splendid Wanderers move a few minutes before the end, his well-struck shot drifting agonisingly wide of the upright.

The exchange between the two managers at the final whistle told it all.

Beaming with pride, Owen Coyle bounded toward the United bench with hand outstretched to find a rather irritated Ferguson, still locked in a chewing gum gaze, barely acknowledging his presence.

The Reds boss warmed up later on to deliver probably his kindest verdict on the Whites in living memory, after a week in which he has barely uttered a word of condemnation towards the club.

Things really are changing…