Manchester United had a brilliant opportunity to cut Chelsea’s lead down to a point at the top of the table, if they beat Bolton. After another disappointing away game, Man United left the Reebok Stadium with only a point. The draw moves United up to second place, one point ahead of Arsenal, but three points behind Chelsea.

Sir Alex Ferguson reverted back to the team that beat Liverpool 3-2 last weekend. Edwin Van der Sar, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Luis Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Berbatov all returned to the starting XI.

Tomaz Kuszczak, Michael Owen, Anderson, Chris Smalling, Ji-Sung Park, Rafael Da Silva and Federico Macheda were all named as substitutes. Rio Ferdinand was not involved at all, probably with the Champions League game away to Valencia on Wednesday in mind.

Man United got off to a bright start but it was Bolton who took an early lead. Martin Petrov’s corner was flicked past Van Der Sar by Zak after he’d got himself in front of Evans. The goal may have been prevented if Evra had not found himself at least a metre away from the post.

United responded well to the goal but the attacking play lacked quality with the final ball. The attacking play may ghave been good but with the defence looking really poor.

It was Nani who brought the game back level with a fantastic solo goal. The winger picked the ball up close to the halfway line, he skipped past three Bolton players and his low strike from the edge of the box flew past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

After the break Bolton took the lead again, against the run of play. A counter attack from a Man United corner finished with for Man City player Petrov seeing his strike deflect off Fletcher and past Van Der Sar.

Not long before their second goal, Sir Alex had to make two changes with both Rooney and Giggs having to come off with injuries, Macheda and Park replaced them. Giggs will be out for a few weeks, Rooney should be fine for the Champions League game midweek.

Bolton should have made it 3-1 but luckily for United, Johan Elmander wasted his chance blasting his shot over the bar. Substitute Owen levelled it up for the away side with 16 minutes remaining after heading in a free-kick from Nani.

It finished 2-2, a well deserved point for Bolton, but a very disappointing point for United. That is now three draws out of three away games for United this season. If Man United are to win the title, the away form has to improve and fast.