Manchester United picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Chelsea with a convincing 4-0 victory over Bolton.
Berbatov scores twice as United march on
Manchester United picked up the gauntlet thrown down by title rivals Chelsea with a convincing 4-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
Chelsea had briefly gone back to the top of the Premier League table after thumping seven past Aston Villa and United responded by giving their own goal difference a significant boost.
The reigning champions controlled the majority of the first half, but were struggling to test Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen on a regular basis until a slice of good fortune gave them the lead.
Nani's flicked pass released Ryan Giggs down the left channel and the veteran Welshman's low cross was side-footed beyond his own keeper by Trotters full-back Jlloyd Samuel - the 11th own goal scored in United's favour this season.
Bolton almost drew level before half-time, only for United keeper Edwin van der Sar to produce a genuinely world-class save to turn away Fabrice Muamba's shot.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first and it took until the 69th minute for the Red Devils to score a second when Berbatov tapped home after Jaaskelainen could only parry Darren Fletcher's shot.
Berbatov impudently flicked home his second of the game on 78 minutes before substitute Darron Gibson rounded off a professional performance with the fourth eight minutes from time.
When news of the teams filtered through an hour before kick-off, one wag suggested in Wayne Rooney's absence it was time for 'own goals' to start pulling his weight again.
United had 'scored' 10 of them before Christmas and number 11 was suitably gift-wrapped.
Seven minutes from the break, having equalled their visitors for much of the contest, Bolton must have breathed a sigh of relief as Giggs, having galloped onto Nani's overhead pass, drilled a low cross beyond lone front-man Berbatov.
Although Antonio Valencia was in the vicinity, Samuel seemed to have an easy task to clear. Instead, the full-back slotted the ball back beyond a startled Jaaskelainen and into the bottom corner.
Good fortune
Chelsea might argue scoring seven - or 12 in a week - is the mark of champions. Ahead of their crunch encounter at Old Trafford next Saturday, the Red Devils could counter that good fortune is required along with a touch of class.
Aside from the goal, Bolton had the best chances of a first half that ended on a pretty sour note.
Jack Wilshere's superb through-ball to Johan Elmander allowed the Swede to bring an excellent low save out of Van der Sar.
Within a minute of Samuel's mishap, the veteran Dutchman did even better to tip Muamba's goalbound effort over after the excellent Wilshere had created the opportunity.
Shortly afterwards, referee Martin Atkinson, having ruled Van der Sar was time-wasting as he went to collect a ball Bolton were entitled to given it was their corner, waved play on with the Dutchman still off the field.
The half-time whistle that eventually followed brought Atkinson a confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been appalled by an earlier Sam Ricketts tackle on Patrice Evra that went unpunished.
In another part of the field, Nani and Ricketts had to be separated.
Tempers calmed during the interval, although with physical confrontation inevitable given Bolton's style, which Owen Coyle is slowly starting to change, there was always an edge to the contest.
Imposing presence
That only brings out the best in Nemanja Vidic, who with Rio Ferdinand missing was an imposing presence at the heart of United's defence.
Vidic won virtually every aerial challenge as Bolton peppered the visitors' penalty area.
But, thanks to their teak-tough Serb, United held firm until play quickly switched to the other end and Jaaskelainen was unable to hold Darren Fletcher's firm drive, allowing Berbatov to tap home his 11th goal of the season.
Having already beaten United once this season, when he was still in charge at Burnley, Coyle must have known there was no chance of a repeat.
United were not finished. Often in the past Ferguson has spoken of the importance goal difference might one day play in the title shake-up.
Having suffered a swing of 11 in four days, they decided it was time to react.
Nani was the creator for Berbatov to slot home his side's third and the in-form Portugal winger also teed up Gibson, who drilled his first touch past Jaaskelainen.
