Ruud celebrates winner

Ruud van Nistelrooy tapped home his 150th Manchester United goal to give the Red Devils a 2-1 win at Bolton and blast the title door wide open.

Left on the bench again, Van Nistelrooy was introduced on the hour mark and promptly scored the goal that not only put his name into the Red Devils' history books but left stumbling Chelsea looking fearfully over their shoulders.

In becoming the eighth United player to hit the landmark, Van Nistelrooy reduced Chelsea's lead at the top to seven points.

Van Nistelrooy's effort - which sealed an eighth straight Premiership win - was set up by Louis Saha, the man who has taken the Dutchman's place in Ferguson's first-choice line-up.

Saha justified manager Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in him. Aside from his clinically executed goal and his crucial assist, the former Fulham man was a constant menace.

Wayne Rooney missed an easy 10th-minute from Cristiano Ronaldo's dangerous cross for United.

Rio Ferdinand and Ronaldo then both wasted chances and had only themselves to blame when Kevin Davies put Bolton in front.

Abdoulaye Faye set the move in motion by winning an aerial duel with Nemanja Vidic. Kevin Nolan then threaded a pass to Davies, who instantly pushed the ball through Ferdinand's legs, darted into the box and beat Edwin van der Sar with ease.

United were not to be denied, however. When Bruno N'Gotty and Joey O'Brien got their wires crossed trying to play offside as United pushed forward, Saha seized onto Mikael Silvestre's pass and scored with a brilliant first-time effort.

Van Nistelrooy's introduction after 15 second-half minutes proved the catalyst for another United win. Saha raced onto John O'Shea's through-ball and cut the pass back for Van Nistelrooy to tap home.

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