RUUD AND RICKETTS

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce thinks Ruud will find it very tough this year.

"It's a common problem with every player in the Premiership after a good first
season. If they burst into the scene as an unknown commodity, once they get
found out it's harder for them. Michael Ricketts has found it harder this season
because he's become known as Bolton's biggest goalscoring threat and so
he's marked a lot tighter than he was last year.

"Van Nistelrooy is the same. A new player comes on to the scene and does
brilliantly, then people start to pay that little bit more attention to them in their
second season."

And on their victories at Old Trafford:

"Last season we met United at a really good time, between two Champions
League matches and when they were struggling a bit defensively. They had
four home games in a row and we were probably the least of their concerns.
We were able to capitalise on a team that was conceding goals.

"But this year, whatever you say about Manchester United not breaking teams
down, they haven't been conceding goals like last season and they've been
much better defensively. That's what makes our win so satisfying. In terms of
chances created by United, they were few and far between. They didn't get
around us or behind us at all.

"It's ironic because United have regained the defensive solidity they maybe
lost a little bit last season, but they're finding it harder to break teams down
and score. The way to beat United is to deny them space behind you. We did
that by dropping deep, almost to our 18-yard box, when they had possession."