MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 13:55:19| >> :120:6180:6180:

On this day: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hat-trick downs Bolton Wanderers

Twelve years ago today, a hat-trick from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer helped Manchester United overcome Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped out of the Old Trafford tunnel last night, he received a hero's welcome from the Manchester United faithful.

Such a reaction was down to nights like the one 12 year ago when United made the short trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men went into the clash having lost back-to-back encounters with Liverpool and Middlesbrough. As a reaction, Ferguson recalled David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs to his starting lineup, but it would be Norwegian striker Solskjaer that would prove to be the major difference between the two sides at the Reebok Stadium.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores with a low shot against Bolton Wanderers on January 29, 2002.© Getty Images

With what was United's first meaningful attack of the match in the 15th minute, Solskjaer broke the deadlock. The creator was Giggs, who crossed from the left flank for his teammate, who converted his chance from eight yards out.

The visitors continued to carve out opportunities, but it wasn't until six minutes before the break that Solskjaer doubled his team's advantage. On this occasion he moved towards the near post to head Beckham's corner beyond the reach of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Both sides created chances after the restart, with Giggs striking the post, while Michael Ricketts forced Fabien Barthez into making an athletic save up the other end.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores a header against Bolton Wanderers on January 29, 2002.© Getty Images

It would be Solskjaer that put the outcome beyond any doubt in the 60th minute, though, when he completed his hat-trick, again reacting quickest to bury a Beckham cross.

The scoring was concluded in the 84th minute, by which time Solskjaer had been replaced by debutant Diego Forlan. Giggs, just like Beckham, took his assists tally for the evening to two when his low cross was dispatched into the net from close range by Van Nistelrooy.

The 4-0 victory moved United four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but they would end up finishing the campaign in third spot.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen; Southall (Charlton), Bergsson, Whitlow, Gardner; Hansen (Johnson), Nolan, Barness, Farrelly; Bobic (Holdsworth), Ricketts

MAN UNITED: Barthez; P Neville, G Neville, Blanc (O'Shea), Silvestre; Beckham, Keane (Butt), Scholes, Giggs; Solskjaer (Forlan), van Nistelrooy

ID:133672: cacheID:133672:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5234:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paolo Di Canio, then of West Ham United, celebrates scoring against Manchester United in the FA Cup on January 28, 2001.
Read Next:
On this day: West Ham end Old Trafford hoodoo
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!