The Trotters overcame struggling Shrewsbury Town to stay third in League One, former Middlesbrough defender David Wheater netting both goals to make sure of a ninth successive win on home soil.
Frontman Ivan Toney was not involved for the Shrews, serving the second of a two-game suspension after amassing 10 yellow cards.
Elsewhere in the third tier, Jamie Sterry’s Coventry City came out on the wrong end of a 4-1 hammering at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Ground.
It was a miserable start for new Sky Blues boss Russell Slade, whose side sit just a point above the bottom of the division.
Haris Vuckic was not involved as Bradford City held leaders Scunthorpe United at Valley Parade.
In League Two, Macaulay Gillesphey started and finished Carlisle United’s 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Shaun Miller opened the scoring for the Cumbrians, only for George Cooper to restore parity on the stroke of half time.
There was disappointment for forward Alex Gilliead, who played 81 minutes of Luton Town’s surprise defeat to Colchester United at Kenilworth Road.
Neither Kyle Cameron nor Tom Heardman figured for their respective clubs on Boxing Day. Cameron’s Newport County continue to prop up the fourth tier after blowing a two-goal lead against Portsmouth, while Heardman’s Hartlepool United lost 1-0 at home to Blackpool.
In the Championship, Adam Armstrong entered the fray as a late substitute as Barnsley continued their recent revival by beating Blackburn Rovers at Oakwell.
Young goalkeeper Paul Woolston, however, endured a frustrating afternoon, as Blyth Spartans narrowly lost to fellow Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division high-flyers Whitby Town at the Turnbull Ground.
With the annual winter breaks well underway in France, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, none of United’s European contingent were in action earlier this week.
OUT ON LOANSiem de Jong - PSV Eindhoven (season-long loan)Tim Krul - Ajax (season-long loan)Henri Saivet - Saint-Etienne (season-long loan)Florian Thauvin - Marseille (season-long loan)Kevin Mbabu - BSC Young Boys (season-long loan)Emmanuel Riviere - Osasuna (season-long loan)Ivan Toney - Shrewsbury Town (loan until January)Macaulay Gillesphey - Carlisle United (loan until January)Adam Armstrong - Barnsley (loan until January)Jamie Sterry - Coventry City (loan until January)Haris Vuckic - Bradford City (loan until January)Sammy Ameobi - Bolton Wanderers (loan until January)Kyle Cameron - Newport County (loan until January)Alex Gilliead - Luton Town (loan until January)Tom Heardman - Hartlepool United (loan until January)Paul Woolston - Blyth Spartans (work experience loan)
