United open the gap at the top

Bolton 1 Man Utd 2

A New Year it may be but it is the same old order in the Premiership as Manchester United retained pole position tonight.

Goals from Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy were enough to overcome a spirited Bolton side at the Reebok Stadium, prior to Youri Djorkaeff’s late consolation.

It was United’s sixth successive victory in the Barclaycard Premiership and they keep Arsenal and Chelsea trailing in their wake.

Bolton gave them a few anxious moments, however, and goalkeeper Tim Howard again came out of a game with flying colours.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson recalled all his big names for the match against their local rivals.

Captain Roy Keane and van Nistelrooy returned to the team after being rested at the weekend.

Defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Phil Neville were also included while Darren Fletcher got the nod ahead of Kleberson.

Bolton’s new striker Javi Moreno had to settle for a place on the bench after his international clearance was received in the hours leading up to the game.

It took van Nistelrooy three minutes to make his presence felt, only for Simon Charlton to make a timely block.

Then John O’Shea found space at the back post for United – but headed over the top following a corner from Ryan Giggs.

Bolton began to find their rhythm after a shaky start and a cross from Jay-Jay Okocha drifted narrowly wide of the post.

Play broke down the other end and Fletcher cut inside the penalty area but his effort was marginally off target.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was forced to make a change in the 16th minute when Ricardo Gardner was stretchered off after falling awkwardly and replaced by Emerson Thome.

United goalkeeper Howard was tested for the first time three minutes later when he did well to parry a shot from Per Frandsen.

Okocha went on a surging run for Bolton in the 22nd minute and fired in a shot from 25 yards which Howard tipped over the top.

United, however, hit back and took the lead two minutes later after Ryan Giggs was allowed room to manoeuvre.

He drove the ball across the face of the goal to van Nistelrooy. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen got a touch but could not prevent Scholes sweeping home the rebound.

Bolton were playing some good football, though, and Frandsen’s shot from distance cleared the bar.

Scholes then sprung the offside trap in the 39th minute and Giggs rounded Jaaskelainen.

The Welshman lobbed the ball into the area and van Nistelrooy sent a simple header into an empty net to double United’s advantage.

It was the Dutchman’s 18th goal of the season and his 98th in all competitions for United.

Bolton refused to give up the fight and Howard made another good stop from Ivan Campo’s long-range effort.

United almost made a blistering start to the second half when Keane rattled in a shot from just inside the area.

However Jaaskelainen was equal to it and got a good hand to the ball to divert it to safety.

Bolton were playing with a fair amount of confidence despite the two-goal deficit.

Frandsen found space 20 yards out, only to see his effort go wide of the target.

Then Davies was marginally off-target after Nicky Hunt floated in a cross from the right.

There was another scare for Bolton in the 62nd minute when Giggs whipped in a free-kick from the right which forced a good save from Jaaskelainen.

Moreno was handed his debut two minutes later, coming on for the ineffective Nolan.

United, however, continued to look dangerous going forward and van Nistelrooy tested Jaaskelainen with a shot from an acute angle.

Bolton were gradually running out of time in a bid to get back in the match and there was almost an air of inevitability around the home fans.

American goalkeeper Howard was again agile in the 81st minute, making a fingertip save from an Okocha blockbuster.

Howard almost handed Bolton a lifeline with two minutes to go when he fumbled a cross from Hunt.

Bolton did pull a goal back with a minute remaining when Djorkaeff headed a superb delivery from Okocha past Howard.

Sub Ibrahim Ba squandered a good chance of equalising for the hosts, before referee Dermot Gallagher blew the final whistle.