This result ends the Wanderers impressive unbeaten record at the Reebok Stadium which had stretched right back to the start of the season and in turn gives United some slender hope of catching up with the current Premiership leaders Chelsea.

Wanderers started off the game very compact and where unwilling to allow United the chance to manouvre but this was all to change after ten minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo outpaced his marker Henrik Pedersen to deliver a pinpoint cross which England striker Wayne Rooney failed to control.

On the quarter hour mark the visitors went even closer to breaking the deadlock when Ryan Giggs and Rooney saw their efforts well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal after a dangerous low cross by United skipper Gary Neville was only partially cleared.

United had forced Bolton into defending deep in their own half but the contribution of veteran defender Bruno N'Gotty was immense for the Trotters as he managed to impose his experience on what was otherwise a hostile environment.

A first half goal looked more likely to be coming the way of the Mancunians but it was Bolton who drew first blood when Kevin Davies confidently slotted the ball past Edwin Van Der Sar in the 26th minute after Kevin Nolan had taken advantage of a Abdoulaye Faye flick on.

Wanderers upped the tempo briefly after going into the lead but their enthusiasm was soon dampened when the in-form Louis Saha brought United back on level terms by firing the ball into the far corner past Jaaskelainen following an excellent angled pass by Mikael Silvestre.

The second half's early exchanges saw Bolton trio Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed and Abdoulaye Faye all fail to test United's goalkeeper Van Der Sar from the egde of the area but this period of attacking play was much more encouraging from the Trotters point of view.

United aimed to shift the game back in their favour so striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy was brought on for Darren Fletcher in a tactical switch which saw fellow forward Rooney take a much more withdrawn role in between midfield and attack.

The Dutch substitute could have won his side a penalty midway through the closing half following a challenge by Bolton's Tal Ben-Haim in the area but the eagle eyed referee Alan Wiley correctly spotted that Van Nistelrooy's tumble was all his own doing.

Jay-Jay Okocha staked yet another claim for a new contract with an efficient performance in the Bolton midfield and his presence was certainly felt when Van Der Sar pawed away an excellent drive from distance by the former Nigerian international captain in the 66th minute.

As the game entered it's final quarter Ronaldo went close for United at the other end with a fine shot which flew just over as did substitute Van Nistelrooy who later hooked the ball over the top following a good headed lay off by goalscorer Saha.

The best chance for United came Saha's way on 76 minutes when in a one on one situation with Jaaskelainen but the Bolton goalkeeper came out of his area with confidence and precision to gather the ball cleanly.

Saha and Van Nistelrooy where to combine once again with just over ten minutes left on the clock and this was to result in the winning goal. Saha skipped into the left hand side of Bolton area to pull the ball back to his strike partner Van Nistelrooy who poked the ball home from less than six yards out.

The game uncharacteristically petered out in the closing minutes as Bolton manager Sam Allardyce made a double subsititution six minutes from the end by bringing on both Jared Borgetti and El-Hadji Diouf in place of Kevin Davies and Gary Speed but neither could make their mark on the game.

Bolton are now set for two away games in quick succession as they face Birmingham City and Liverpool away from the Reebok Stadium in the next eight days.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien (Nicky Hunt), Tal Ben-Haim, Bruno N'Gotty, Henrik Pedersen, Abdoulaye Faye, Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed (El-Hadji Diouf), Kevin Nolan, Kevin Davies (Jared Borgetti), Stelios Giannakopoulos

Subs Not Used: Ali Al-Habsi, Hidetoshi Nakata

United: Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre, Cristiano Ronaldo (Ji-Sung Park), Darren Fletcher (Ruud Van Nistelrooy), John O'Shea, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha

Subs Not Used: Tim Howard, Gerard Pique, Patrice Evra

Referee:

Alan Wiley

Attendance:

27,718

Booked:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

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