BPL :Dimitar Berbatov sent United top

Bolton 0 - 1 Manchester United

Dimitar Berbatov's last-minute header sent Manchester United to the Barclays Premier League summit. It appeared the Red Devils would have to settle for a point despite keeping a record-equalling 10th clean sheet. But when Carlos Tevez broke free of the Bolton Wanderers defence, his cross was perfect for Berbatov, who finally broke Jussi Jaaskelainen's brave resistance.

United's first decent opportunity arrived after 35 minutes when Gary Neville fed a pass to Fletcher, who had galloped into the Bolton box. The Scotland midfielder cut a cross back to the near post where Ronaldo jumped but could only bounce a header at Jaaskelainen. Berbatov got on the end of another Fletcher cross, this time to the far post, but his header lacked power and Gardner hacked clear.

In between, Makakula looped a header towards the United goal that Van der Sar caught with ease. The Congolese front-man was giving Vidic a physical battering, which is not quite what Basham did to Berbatov at the other end but the United man still won a free-kick for his side. Ronaldo took it, forcing Jaaskelainen into an excellent save with a stinging low effort. Another excellent save from Jaaskelainen denied Anderson, who had let fly from 30 yards.

At the start of the second half, Matt Taylor took a blow on the back of the head that needed treatment although he was on the field again when Makukula slipped a pass to Davies, whose cross just dropped beyond Basham, who had wriggled free at the far post. Tevez played a neat pass to Carrick on the edge of the box but the England man looked to feed an even tighter ball through to Berbatov rather than going for goal himself and met with no reward.

Ronaldo has not been in top form recently but another stinging free-kick was too much for Jaaskelainen to hold and Makukula hooked clear. Another United attack floundered because of a poor Ronaldo pass and it was no surprise Ferguson introduced Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes 20 minutes from time. Ronaldo had yet another shot saved by Jaaskelainen. But just as it appeared Bolton would hold on for a point, Tevez broke free and pulled a cross back for Berbatov. The header was firm. And this time Jaaskelainen had no answer.

Bolton 0 - 1 Manchester United Highlights

Chelsea 2 - 1 Stoke City

There was an even more dramatic late show at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea scored twice in the last two minutes to snatch a 2-1 win over Stoke.

The Londoners had fallen behind on the hour mark after Rory Delap, demonstrating there is more to his game than his dangerous long throws, produced a classic striker's chipped finish to beat Petr Cech following a pass from new signing James Beattie. That goal game completely against the run of play and Chelsea's intense pressure finally told at the death as Juliano Belletti's 88th-minute strike and a stoppage time winner from Frank Lampard earned Luiz Felipe Scolari's side a morale-boosting victory.


Sunderland 1 - 2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa consolidated their grip on fourth place thanks to an 80th-minute penalty from Gareth Barry, which enabled Martin O'Neill's side to claim a scarcely-deserved 2-1 win at Sunderland. The Black Cats had been good value for their first-half lead, courtesy of Danny Collins's 10th-minute header from a Carlos Edwards free-kick.

That was cancelled out in controversial circumstances on the hour mark when James Milner bundled Ashley Young's low cross over the line with Sunderland's defenders furiously protesting that the final contact had come off the winger's arm. Young was sent off soon afterwards for a two-footed lounge at Dean Whitehead but Villa went on to claim all three points after Paul McShane brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor right on the edge of the penalty area.


Hull City 1 - 3 Arsenal

Arsenal struck twice late on to see off battling Hull City and keep pace with the Barclays Premier League top four.

Hull had looked set to frustrate the Gunners for the second time this season when Daniel Cousin cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener in the second half. But the KC Stadium visitors produced a strong finish and snatched victory with goals in the final nine minutes from Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner.

Other results;

January 17
Blackburn Rovers 3 - 0 Newcastle United
Bolton 0 - 1 Manchester United
Chelsea 2 - 1 Stoke City
Manchester City 1 - 0 Wigan Athletic
Sunderland 1 - 2 Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion 3 - 0 Middlesbrough
Hull City 1 - 3 Arsenal

January 18
West Ham United ? - ? Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur ? - ? Portsmouth