RUUD VAN NISTELROOY scored his 150th Manchester United goal as the Red Devils came from behind to beat Bolton and cut Chelsea's Premiership lead to seven points.

Van Nistelrooy was again omitted by Alex Ferguson, but his introduction on the hour mark proved crucial as he netted a tap-in to hand United an eighth successive Premiership win.

Bolton, unbeaten at the Reebok since August but without a home win over United since 1978, pressed forward early on and a JayJay Okocha long throw was allowed to bounce dangerously in the visitors' area before Edwin van der Sar came to collect.

United should have gone in front after 11 minutes when Louis Saha intelligently let Ronaldo's cross run on to Rooney. The England man had the Bolton goal at his mercy but his first touch was truly abysmal and he succeeded only in knocking it straight into Jaaskelainen's arms. Another gilt-edged opportunity came and went for the visitors shortly afterwards when Jaaskelainen superbly beat away a Giggs shot and then a Rooney follow-up after Neville had drilled a low cross into the danger zone. Rio Ferdinand then suffered acute embarrassment when he failed to make any connection with a low Giggs cut-back which found him unmarked on the edge of the area.

Ferguson must have wondered how his team were not in front given their overwhelming dominance and then, almost unbelievably, Bolton swiftly countered and went in front with almost ridiculous ease. Nemanja Vidic initially lost out in an aerial duel with Abdoulaye Faye, which laid the Serbian defender out. Kevin Nolan was quick to latch onto the loose ball and threaded a pass through to Davies. Ferdinand moved into make the tackle but Davies simply pushed the ball through his legs, darted into the box and beat Van der Sar with the type of clinical finish United had been unable to find earlier in the contest.

Suddenly, all the old failings which had been evident in United's play during the first half of an inconsistent campaign were surfacing again. Silvestre missed one clearance completely and Ronaldo sent Giannakopoulos crashing with a wild swipe which should have brought a yellow card. United needed something to calm their nerves and it duly arrived just past the half hour mark when N'Gotty and Joey O'Brien got their wires crossed trying to play offside as United pushed forward, allowing Saha to seize on Silvestre's pass and beat Jaaskelainen with a brilliant first-time effort.

It was more of the same in the second half as Bolton somehow held out against the United onslought. Ferguson introduced Van Nistelrooy for Darren Fletcher after an hour, a move which saw Rooney shift across to the left and Giggs into the centre of midfield. It was a bold signal of attacking intent from the United boss, signalling his desperation. Ronaldo was then booked for having another hack at Giannakopoulos.

The Portugal winger sarcastically applauded referee Alan Wiley's decision and under the circumstances might have been better advised not to. Wiley's next decision was far more controversial as he ruled there had been no infringement when Van Nistelrooy went over in the area under the challenge of Tal Ben Haim.

Van Nistelrooy had lifted a shot over, then saw one saved by Jaaskelainen - but it proved to be third time lucky 11 minutes from time when John O'Shea released Saha who squared for the Dutchman to tap home.