Manchester United ended a run of two successive defeats with a late winner from Dimitar Berbatov in the 1-0 success against Bolton at Old Trafford. When Jonathan Evans saw red with a wild tackle on Stuart Holden with 12 minutes remaining it seemed as if United were have to settle for a point, but substitute Berbatov had other ideas.
In the 88th minute Wanderers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen could only parry Nani's effort allowing the ball to fall for the Bulgarian for the simplest of chances and his 20th league strike of the campaign.
This vital Manchester United victory takes their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.
Certainly there is a certain irony that the winner should come with the home side down to ten-men as they produced few clear cut chances.
Javier Hernandez shot wide whilst for the visitor's Martin Petrov hit a free-kick at Edwin van der Sar as Bolton failed to make the most of their numerical advantage.
Referee: Andre Marriner
Venue: Old Trafford Attendance: 75,486
Man Utd scorers: Berbatov 88 Bolton scorers:
MAN UTD 01 Van der Sar 03 Evra 06 Brown (Fabio Da Silva 46) 12 Smalling 23 Evans (red card) 11 Giggs 16 Carrick 17 Nani 25 Valencia 10 Rooney 14 Hernandez (Berbatov 46)
Substitutes 29 Kuszczak, 20 Fabio Da Silva, 45 Oliver Gill, 13 Park Ji-Sung, 28 Gibson, 07 Owen, 09 Berbatov
BOLTON 22 Jaaskelainen 02 Steinsson 04 Robinson 05 Cahill 31 Wheater 06 Muamba (Klasnic 90) 08 Holden (Taylor 78) 10 Petrov 09 Elmander 14 Davies 15 Sturridge (Lee 60)
Substitutes 01 Bogdan, 25 Alonso, 07 Taylor, 27 Lee, 17 Klasnic, 19 Moreno, 20 Blake
