Not good enough for England's Under-21 side last week, Nolan grabbed Bolton's first in their 2-1 win over Manchester United last year and topped that by lashing home the winner as Sir Alex Ferguson's multi-millionaires discovered that sinking home feeling once more.

Just as last season, they fully deserved their success, repelling a Red Devils onslaught in the final 12 minutes after Nolan had driven a shot through a gaping hole in the United defence and past Fabien Barthez's outstretched hand.

Stand-in skipper David Beckham worked tirelessly trying to inspire greater efforts from his team but too many of his colleagues lacked the guile to finish off his approach work and even in the last powerful surge, there was to be no breakthrough

Ruud Van Nistelrooy did smash a shot against the underside of the crossbar, vainly claiming it had cannoned over the line but the assistant referee was perfectly placed to turn it down.

It was the best chance of a half where the home side huffed and puffed and the visitors, far from adopting the defensive approach Sam Allardyce had suggested, broke forward whenever they could, which as it turned out, was quite often.

United were turning in the kind of display usually shaken out of them by Roy Keane's snarling captaincy. Beckham's approach is somewhat different but he can usually be relied upon to make the most of any free-kick opportunities handed to him within shooting range.

Amazingly, Bolton gave him three chances to try his luck within a frustrating five minute spell for the visitors. The first was saved, the second went over, the third went wide, each time Beckham shaking his head in frustration.

The England skipper had another shot blocked before Ryan Giggs wasted a glorious chance to put United in front, failing to make decent connection with a 10-yard volley when Solskjaer perfectly laid off Butt's long ball.

It proved to be a costly error for, barely a minute after Diego Forlan had been thrown on for Veron, Nolan put the visitors in front.

The strike owed much to persistence, from both Nolan and Gudni Bergsson, who made a nuisance of himself in the United area, that a weak home clearance fell straight into his team-mate's path as he followed in his own deep throw.

There appeared to be some good fortune at work as Beckham slipped, leaving the gap which Nolan filled with his fizzing effort which gave Barthez no chance.

United piled forward in desperation. Blanc had an effort blocked, Forlan had a late shot saved. But an equaliser would have been an injustice.