Manchester United moved top of the Premier League with a nervous 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 Chelski after the Tesco Team 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.