Scholes 73

Paul Scholes’ 100^th EPL goal was enough to send an unimpressive Manchester United back to the top of the league, as they huffed and puffed past strugglers Wolves.

Top scorer Wayne Rooney was not in the champions’ squad, due to a well-documented knee injury.

They missed his influence and would have only drawn but for a glaring miss by late substitute Sam Vokes in the 90^th minute.

Wolves’ Irish international Kevin Doyle proved a handful for United’s returning first-choice centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

But the best chance of an even first-half fell to left-back Stephen Ward, who headed straight at United keeper Edwin Van der Sar when unmarked eight yards out after 35 minutes.

United were a little sharper after the interval. But they created little until the pivotal moment eighteen minutes from time.

Joey Craddock only half-cleared a Nani cross to the feet of Scholes and then slipped over, allowing the former England midfielder to hit a right-foot shot across keeper Marcus Hahnemann into the net.

United substitute Mame Diouf missed a free header late on. But in stoppage time, Vokes skied an even better chance over from eight yards with Van der Sar stranded.