Manchester, Aug 28: Manchester United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 in English Premier League. English Premier League champions Manchester United maintained their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 home win over newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday (August 27). United coach Sir Alex Ferguson gave Portuguese youngster Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian Kleberson their first starts in place of regulars Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes but they were not involved in United's only goal in the 10th minute. Uruguayan Diego Forlan swung over a corner from the right to John O'Shea whose header just beat Wolves goalkeeper Michael Oakes. Wolves, having conceded nine goals and without a point from their opening two matches in the Premier League, were able to hold United on a pitch made slippery by heavy watering and should have equalised after 35 minutes. Nathan Blake's pass to Henri Camara split the United defence but with only goalkeeper Tim Howard to beat, Camara put his shot wide of the post. At the start of the second half, Wolves continued to press and Camara came close again after 53 minutes when his opportunist overhead kick flew just over the bar.


Midway through the second half, Ferguson replaced Ronaldo and Kleberson with Giggs and Scholes, but the closest United came to extending their lead was a shot from Scholes that flew just wide with 16 minutes remaining.


Despite having won all their opening three matches, United are behind Arsenal on goal difference after the London side beat Aston Villa 2-0 also on Wednesday.


Standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 3 3 0 0 8 1 9 2. Manchester United 3 3 0 0 7 1 9 3. Portsmouth 3 2 1 0 7 2 7 4. Manchester City 3 2 1 0 7 3 7 5. Chelsea 2 2 0 0 4 2 6 6. Blackburn Rovers 3 1 1 1 9 6 4 7. Charlton Athletic 3 1 1 1 6 5 4 8. Everton 3 1 1 1 6 5 4 9. Birmingham City 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 10. Tottenham Hotspur 3 1 1 1 2 2 4 11. Southampton 3 0 3 0 2 2 3 12. Fulham 2 1 0 1 4 5 3 13. Leeds United 3 0 2 1 3 4 2 14. Leicester City 3 0 2 1 3 4 2 15. Liverpool 3 0 2 1 1 2 2 16. Newcastle United 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 17. Aston Villa 3 0 1 2 1 4 1 18. Middlesbrough 3 0 1 2 2 7 1 19. Bolton Wanderers 3 0 1 2 2 10 1 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 0 0 3 1 10 0


Bureau Report