United Go Top With Trotters Win

Manchester United moved top of the Premier League with a nervy victory over Bolton at Old Trafford.

The champions took an early lead when Michael Owen's header was deflected into his own net by Zat Knight.

After Antonio Valencia lashed home his first goal for United, the hosts looked to be cruising to the three points.

But Matt Taylor headed in from Kevin Davies' cross and Bolton began to flood forward in search of an equaliser, only to be denied by some dogged defending.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be mightily relieved to have secured the win, which was far from convincing but sees them go a point clear of Chelsea after the Blues were beaten at Aston Villa earlier on Saturday.

Such was their dominance, United seemed to switch off mid-way through the second half and were fortunate not to be punished as Bolton laid siege to their goal.

They will have to raise their game for the trips to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday and then Liverpool in the league four days later.

Bolton, who drop a place to 13th, will feel their late rally was worthy of a point but, in truth, they would have been out of contention far earlier had United taken a few more of their numerous chances.

A seventh straight defeat at Old Trafford looked likely for Bolton as early as the fourth minute when Owen found himself unmarked to meet Ryan Giggs' precise cross with a glancing header.

The ball was heading wide but, unfortunately for the visitors, it struck Knight's leg and trickled into Jussi Jaaskelainen's net.

Owen, benefitting from Wayne Rooney's calf injury to make only his second league start for United, was at the heart of United's electrifying start.

The 29-year-old was one of eight changes to United's starting line-up and caused the Bolton defence no shortage of problems in the opening exchanges.

United's outstanding performer, however, was Giggs and the 35-year-old winger almost set up a second as his cross from the right was headed goalbound by Jonny Evans, only for Jaaskelainen to save brilliantly on to a post.

Bolton's five-man midfield was providing little cover for their back four - but to their credit they did get forward to support lone striker Davies whenever possible.

On one such occasion, Davies escaped the attentions of Rio Ferdinand but headed wide from an unmarked position following Sam Ricketts' centre.

Nine of Bolton's 10 league goals this season have come from set pieces and they almost continued that sequence when Taylor drove wide after Davies had chested down Gary Cahill's long punt forward.

But United were in a comfort zone and reasserted their authority with a second goal, Valencia playing a one-two with Owen before drilling a powerful strike past Jaaskelainen.

Bolton had the first chance of the second half, Knight heading Taylor's free-kick straight at Edwin Van der Sar, but United, and in particular, Dimitar Berbatov ensured they were soon under the cosh once more.

The Bulgarian, laid on two chances for Owen , the first of which was dragged wide and the second clipped wide under pressure from Knight, and one for Valencia, who was expertly challenged by Jlloyd Samuel.

With the match turning into what seemed like a United training session, Berbatov, on a high following the birth of his daughter, Dea, in Sofia on Thursday, had an acrobatic volley repelled by the marvellous Jaaskelainen and Valencia's low effort was again saved by the Fin.

It took the introduction of Mark Davies to spark Bolton into life and the zest with which they attacked appeared to take Ferguson's men completely by surprise.

After Mark Davies' superb run, Kevin Davies crossed at the second attempt for Taylor to rise above Patrice Evra and nod powerfully past Van der Sar.

Bolton's two other substitutes, Ivan Klasnic and Chris Basham, troubled United time and again with the former having a goal disallowed after Ricardo handled.

Klasnic and Knight both had chances to draw their team level and, deep into stoppage time, Cahill headed straight at Van der Sar, but United managed to hold on.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"It was more tense than we would have liked.

"We made it hard for ourselves and we were panicking at times. But we got through it, just.

"This is a tough league. There have been some surprise results already.

"But we have had a couple ourselves, losing at Burnley and drawing at home to Sunderland."

Bolton manager Gary Megson on Ivan Klasnic's disallowed goal and Manchester United's succession of narrow wins:
"It was a ridiculous decision. Ricardo (Gardner) clearly got to the ball in front of (Edwin) Van der Sar.

"I didn't think it was a free-kick at all.

"The point is words that people are using (for United) are 'almost', 'nearly' and 'might have'.

"The fact is, they haven't."

Valencia scored his first goal for Man. United in the 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers