A late goal by Dimitar Berbatov gave Manchester United a narrow win over Bolton to send them top of the Premier League.Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester United travelled to the Reebok Stadium hoping for the win that would take them top of the table for the first time this season and a record breaking tenth consecutive clean sheet.
The champions were boosted by the news that Jonny Evans and Carlos Tevez both passed fitness tests ahead of kick off whilst Anderson and Michael Carrick also returned to the starting lineup.
Bolton, meanwhile, welcomed Gary Cahill back from injury and also handed loan striker Ariza Makukula a first start alongside Kevin Davies as they looked to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
Yet it was a slow start by both sides, Steinsson denying Ronaldo with a sliding challenge after a Fletcher cut back and a high and wide Berbatov shot the closest the visitors came in the opening exchanges.
It was far from one way traffic, however, Fabrice Muamba forcing Van der Sar to tip his long range effort over the bar, just on the half hour mark.
However, United contained the Bolton threat and began to press as the first half came to an end and had their goalkeeper to thank for several good saves.
The Bolton stopper did well to save a Ronaldo header before pushing a free kick from the Portuguese around the post.
Yet perhaps the best effort of the half was from Anderson minutes before the break. The Brazilian, still to score for United, hit a fierce shot but couldn’t beat Jaaskelainen.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men began the second half brightly yet still Bolton threatened at the other end.
Steinsson sending in a delicious cross that flew inches above Taylor’s head before Davies header a Samuel cross fractionally over the bar.
United, clearly missing the injured Wayne Rooney, still had chances of their own. Darren Fletcher wasting a good cross by Ronaldo by deciding to shoot at the far post when a header might have beaten Jaaskelainen.
With 20 minutes to go Sir Alex Ferguson opted to changes things, sending on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes for Anderson and Darren Fletcher as he searched for the vital goal.
United began to dominate an increasingly open second half yet Bolton continued to look a threat on the break and with the final whistle approaching it looked as though United were to be frustrated.
However, the champions were not to be denied and with only minutes left Carlos Tevez broke well down the right and found Dimitar Berbatov in front of goal and the Bulgarian headed home to send his side top of the pile.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Davies, Basham, Muamba, Gardner (Puygrenier, 83), Taylor, Makukula (Obadeyi, 64).
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Fletcher (Giggs, 69), Carrick, Anderson (Scholes, 69), Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov.
GOAL
0-1 Manchester United (Berbatov, 90)
Resource: Goal.com
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