ANTONIO VALENCIA opened his account as Manchester United cashed in on their rivals' blunders.
The winger was on target for the first time since joining the champions after Zat Knight's horror own goal.
And with Chelsea and Liverpool both losing, United climbed back up to the Premier League summit.Gary Megson had been plotting a smash 'n grab raid at Old Trafford, sending out Kevin Davies as his lone forward.
But Bolton's carefully laid plans were ripped to shreds within five minutes of kick-off.
Michael Owen made a right hash of a header — but, with the ball spinning wide, it cannoned off Knight's knee and into the back of the net.
And Owen fluffed another header a minute later, nodding straight at keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The Finn was called into action soon after when Valencia fired in a 25-yard drive. At the other end, Davies wasted a rare chance in the United half.
Just after the half hour mark, Owen man turned provider for the hosts' second.
The ex-England man worked the ball wide for Valencia, who ripped through the Bolton back-line before hammering home.
Davies went into the book two minutes after the break when he chopped Patrice Evra down on the edge of the area.
Edwin Van der Sar, making his first start this season, desperately denied Knight with a save on his goal-line.
United then raced down the other end again, with Owen dragging a shot wide. And Owen fluffed another glorious chance when he ran onto Dimitar Berbatov's sublime pass, only to take too long and screw wide.
Ivan Klasnic and Mark Davies replaced Lee Chung-yong and Tamir Cohen as Bolton attempted to stem the flow of United attacks.
And they managed more than that — grabbing one back on 75 minutes.
Matty Taylor soared above Evra to nod home Davies' cross. But despite a late Bolton flurry, United held on for all three points.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Jonathan Evans, Evra (O'Shea 83), Valencia, Carrick, Anderson (Scholes 86), Giggs, Owen (Welbeck 83), Berbatov. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Nani, Macheda. Goals: Knight 5 og, Valencia 33.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Knight, Cahill, Samuel, Lee (Klasnic 53), Cohen (Mark Davies 63), Muamba (Basham 77), Gardner, Taylor, Kevin Davies. Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Robinson, Steinsson, McCann. Booked: Kevin Davies. Goals: Taylor 75.
Att: 75,103
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
