In the final minute of normal time, Carlos Tevez used his strength to turn and bundle his way through Chris Basham and Sebastien Puygrenier and cross the ball to an unmarked Berbatov whose diving header beat Jussi Jaaskelainen to see them go home with a win despite an unconvincing performance.

This was the fifth consecutive clean sheet on the road for Alex Ferguson’s side, but they were once again lacking potency in the final third.

United were without striker Wayne Rooney, who picked up a hamstring injury just eight minutes into the 1-0 win over Wigan in midweek.

Rooney has scored six times in United’s last four encounters with Bolton, and his physical and dynamic play was greatly missed by the defending champions.

In the absence of the England striker, Berbatov and Tevez struggled to find their feet as a partnership, and Cristiano Ronaldo – who also regularly scores against the Trotters – had life made difficult for him by Bolton full-back Gretar Steinsson.

In fact, it was Bolton who forced the first save of the match when, after soaking up United pressure for the opening 20 minutes, Fabrice Muamba battled past Anderson in midfield to fire a shot on goal that Edwin van der Sar had to tip over the bar.

United tested Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen for the first time shortly afterwards, when Darren Fletcher’s cross from the byline found Ronaldo, but the newly-crowned FIFA world player of the year could only steer his header right at the Finn despite being unmarked.

Bolton manager Gary Megson handed a debut to Portuguese striker Ariza Makukula, who only completed his loan move from Benfica on Friday, and the burly striker made his presence felt, picking up a yellow card for a foul on Nemanja Vidic.

However, Makukula spent much of the match chasing down lost causes, and picked up a calf strain in the second half and was replaced by Temitope Odebayi, making only his third appearance for the Trotters.

The second-half again saw Bolton keep United at bay and create some good chances of their own, with Matthew Taylor blasting the sort of half-volley from distance that he usually relishes over the bar and Kevin Davies sending a looping header on to the roof of the net.

However, despite their lack of fluency in front of goal, United rallied in the closing stages and Ronaldo drilled a low shot that was saved by Jaaskelainen before Berbatov’s late winner.
Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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