EPL Saturday Review: Dimitar Berbatov Helps United Reach the Top of the Table

Damien Duff. Maynor Figueroa. Tim Cahill. Robinho. Frank Lampard. Dimitar Berbatov.

The never-ending list of 90th minute match-winning goals adds to overall hype, glamour and excitement of the Barclays Premier League.

As Frank Lampard was at it again, with a stunning left-footed strike past Thomas Sorensen at Stamford Bridge in West London. Dimitar Berbatov wasn't much behind at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

Manchester United came into the game, knowing that a win would be enough to send them to the top of the Premier League as Liverpool don't play Everton until Monday.

Both sides were relatively depleted as the Red Devils went to Bolton without the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and Patrice Evra. The Trotters themselves were missing skipper Kevin Nolan, Johan Elmander, and Gavin McCann.

The game got off to an extremely dull start as both sides struggled to keep possession and failed to break the dead-lock. Cristiano Ronaldo's pace on the left jolted the Bolton defense numerous times as Dimitar Berbatov failed to slot home an opportunity created by the Portuguese winger in the first half.

Gary Cahill returned from suspension for the Trotters as new loan signing Ariza Makukula from Benfica also started for Gary Megson's side.

Bolton came close as Ricardo Gardner's cross was headed wide by stand-in skipper, Kevin Davies.

Jussi Jaaskelainen was tested by a couple of trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free-kicks but he was up to the challenge. Ronaldo's second strike violently bounced right infront of the keeper but fortunately for the home side, Jaaskelainen parried it away for a corner.

Minutes before the interval, Darren Fletcher's cross found Ronaldo but his header was comfortably saved by Bolton's first-choice keeper.

United were frustrated by Bolton for much of the second half as Bolton denied the likes of Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbato,v and Vidic of a chance to take the lead.

Bolton's bubble of energy—Chris Basham—ran out gas in the second period and made no bursts forward in the second half as Makukula was also replaced by Obadeyi while Gary Megson started to adopt a defensive approach, using Andy O'Brien as a guard for his defense.

Matt Taylor's volley went high and wide as a visibly frustrated Sir Alex Ferguson turned to two of his most trusted guards—Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

Due to Ronaldo's fantastic performance on the left—Giggs sticked to the right and Carlos Tevez, who continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford—once again demonstrated tremendous work-ethic and created the goal-scoring opportunity in the dying minutes of the game.

Bolton stung the wood-work as Davies headed over, when he really should have scored from yet another pin-point cross by Samuel.

United ran out of patience, approaching the 90 minute—Ryan Giggs, on the right, slid the ball through to Tevez. The Argentine striker was tangled in between two Bolton defenders but he managed to get away—with the ball!

In space on the right, Tevez provided a perfect cross to Berbatov, who headed United's winner and broke Bolton's stiff resistance.

A spare of thought for Bolton and Gary Megson who went through more of the same at Arsenal last week courtesy of a late goal by Nicklas Bendtner.

For now though, Manchester United are back at the top of the table and the title race with Chelsea's stunning victory is firmly back on track.

Liverpool need a victory on Monday in the highly anticipated Merseyside Derby against Everton.

Arsenal defeated Hull City 1-3 at KC Stadium. Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, and Nicklas Bendtner with the goals for the Gunners.

Juliano Belletti scored the other goal in Chelsea's victory over Stoke, cancelling out Rory Delap's opener as Gareth Barry and James Milner netted for Martin O'Neill's men in Aston Villa's 2-1 victory over Sunderland.

Jason Roberts bagged a brace and Benni McCarthy also scored as Blackburn Rovers thrashed Newcastle United 3-0 at Ewood Park.

Pablo Zabaleta's strike was enough to give Manchester City a 1-0 win against Wigan and West Brom came out on top against Middlesbrough with a comfortable 3-0 victory as Robert Koren bagged a brace and Chris Brunt scored the opener.