Bolton 0-1 Man Utd
| By Nabil Hassan |
 Carlos Tevez battled for possession with Andy O'Brien |
Dimitar Berbatov's late goal sent champions Manchester United to the top of the Premier League table for the first time this season.
Berbatov headed home from close range after good work from Carlos Tevez on the stroke of 90 minutes as the game looked to heading towards a tame draw.
For the preceding 89 minutes United had been thwarted by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The Bolton keeper saved superbly from two Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kicks and also a header from the United winger.
United's win saw them equal Chelsea's league record of 10 clean sheets in the league as they bid for a record third consecutive Premier League title.
Liverpool will now have to beat Everton in Monday's Merseyside derby to replace United at the top of the Premier League table, though Sir Alex Ferguson's side will then have a game in hand.
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United were missing trio Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra but were boosted with the news that both Tevez and Jonny Evans had passed late fitness tests.
In the opening exchanges United dominated possession, while Bolton relied on set-pieces and long-balls to trouble the visitors.
Bolton started with new loan signing Ariza Makukula up front and his physical presence troubled United in the air.
Fabrice Muamba also provided a muscle in midfield and he saw a long-range effort tipped over the bar from Edwin Van der Sar.
It took until the 35th minute for the first real chance of the game when Ronaldo's header was beaten out by Jaaskelainen.
The Bolton keeper was called into action twice again before the half-time break, first superbly stopping Ronaldo's fierce low 20-yard free-kick and then routinely keeping out Anderson's long-range effort.
If Ronaldo troubled Bolton with his free-kicks, he was less assured with his final pass, while Tevez struggled to hold onto the ball up front.
Anderson and Carrick were also erratic with their distribution and in truth United lacked the guile that Rooney, who was missing with a hamstring injury, provides.
Ronaldo again went close with a free-kick while Bolton too offered very little, seemingly content to settle for a vital point.
With just 17 minutes remaining Ferguson called for the cavalry and Ryan Giggs, making his 550th league appearance, and Paul Scholes entered the fray.
The veteran duo sparked United into life as they went in search of the vital goal.
Tevez went close with a header while Ronaldo also saw another powerful free-kick kept out by Jaaskelainen.
Just as it looked as if the game would end goalless, good work from Tevez out wide saw the Argentine forward cross for Berbatov who from six yards out headed powerfully past Jaaskelainen to win the game for United.
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Bolton's Jussi Jaaskelainen 7.75 (on 90 minutes).
• Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.
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