Michael Owen rescued a point for United after Sir Alex Ferguson's men twice had to come from behind against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Owen nodded home Nani's free-kick 16 minutes from time to ensure the Reds did not join the other victims on a weekend of shock defeats.
Yet it was hardly a pleasing outcome for Ferguson, who would have hoped for better once Nani levelled Zat Knight's early effort but instead saw his team fall behind again thanks to Martin Petrov.
As United have now conceded nine goals in five league games and trail leaders Chelsea by three points, it was not the best of weekends for them, nor an out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney, who was replaced by Federico Macheda half an hour from the end.
Saturday's results could not have worked out any better for United and the intent behind their attacking play was obvious from the first kick, but defensively they remain unconvincing.
The absence of Rio Ferdinand with Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Valencia in mind was a further indication that all is not well with the England skipper.
And without him, life continues to be a struggle.
A late goal at Fulham, two in injury-time at Everton and a Steven Gerrard brace against Liverpool last weekend when the Reds did not have a single shot of note in open play during the entire game is not a record to be proud of.
To that crime sheet can now be added Knight's back flick.
The defender's third goal in as many years could not be described as conventional.
But once Patrice Evra moved away from the far post he was supposed to be patrolling when Petrov curled over his corner, the target was wide enough for him to steer the ball into once he had escaped the attentions of Jonny Evans.
That United would score themselves was never really in doubt such was their dominance of possession in key midfield areas.
The problem was whether they would concede again in the meantime.
Edwin van der Sar was forced to make a couple of vital interventions as Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander made their presence felt, with Evans not looking entirely comfortable.
At the other end, United's play was incisive and both Giggs and Rooney wasted decent chances.
The manner of the visitors' equaliser would have come as a disappointment to Owen Coyle.
Nani deserved plenty of credit for his ambition as he set off racing towards the Bolton goal from inside his own half.
However, the Trotters defence just kept inviting him to run and the Portuguese winger had got to the edge of the area before he drilled an impressive shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
In fairness to Bolton, it was something of an aberration given how well they had done at closing down space around their penalty area and forcing United into pumping a succession of crosses into the box.
It was a tactic United persevered with after the interval and eventually resulted in the substitution of an ineffective Rooney half an hour from the end.
Rooney's work rate could not be faulted on his first appearance away from Old Trafford since the storm erupted over his private life.
But he does not threaten at the moment and now Owen has taken his tally to three in a week, compared to one for Rooney - from the penalty spot - all season, an interesting selection dilemma looms for Ferguson in Valencia on Wednesday.
Owen was not even on the pitch when Petrov put Bolton back in front, exploiting more poor defensive work to step inside Park then rocket a shot past Edwin van der Sar that flicked off John O'Shea.
The introduction of Federico Macheda did result in an opening for Berbatov but it took Owen's deft near-post flick for the far corner from Nani's free-kick to bring United level.
A late onslaught was expected as United hunted the winner.
But it did not actually materialise, with Elmander, who had wasted an excellent chance to seal victory for Bolton before Owen scored, steering the final opportunity wide as well.
Bolton 2 United 2
September 26, 2010
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Bloody 'opeless!
da da da da da Martin Petrov.... da da da da da Martin Petrov
So the ''big winner'' of the weekend was not the Stretford Red Sox, but MANCHESTER CITY.
City beat Chelsea not for your benefit, but our own.
I'm dead upset coz them other lot beat Chelsea and we carnt capitalise on it, dead upset and what is that about berbativ losing is £30mil price tag, he hasn't, i am dead upset me. Rubbish. we cosede to many goals this season, we do.
Can someone explain what happened to Rio? Berbatov disappeared again.
Yet another bad selection by Fergie, the time really is up for him, relying on 35yos and Rooney, whose mind is so obviously elsewhere. Can't hope City do us a favour every week. If we need that crock Owen to get us out of trouble, then the games up.
great result,any points away from home r a bonus
Can someone tell me how Johnny Evans plays every week with his form as bad as it is?
Disappointing. It looked like we had one eye on the Valencia fixture. Not sure why O'Shea keeps playing despite his countless mistakes every game. Where are Rafael and Fabio?
Clueless in midfield, useless in defence and led by a manager that can no longer recognise the weaknesses that flow through this side.
Where the hell was Gibson today? This was a game that was screaming out for his talent instead of the inept Fletcher, Rooney is completely out of sorts and needs to be dropped for a few games to sort his thick head out.
In past years we'd have taken advantage of the gifts that were given to us this weekend, to go into October without an away win and shipping so many goals spells for a real struggle to challenge for the prem this season.
Congragulations to Bolton today, proved a real handful and were managed superbly by Owen Coyle.
doesnt really surprise me,never have i felt so pesimistic about our chances of winning the league. valencia away is going to be tough and then sunderland away next weekend,we really could be in bother in both league and champs league.
Well the highlight of the day id ending up at the last drop were the Bolton fans are having a ball,they did not believe after three shocking performances by Evans and O,Hea that Davies would get the chance to show how poor Evans really is. Smalling must wonder after his MOM performance why he does not play,Rooney will probably end up at Barcelona the real reason Fergie was in Spain OWEN still has the touch unlike Fergie who has already cost us 6 points in our last three away games.
as long as we keep on playing the likes of Oshea n Evans we will not win away from home this year. Poor record for the defense this time.
It's interesting how teams which play in"red" are decllining very fast. Another so called top 4 team with no money and second rated players just about got a draw. Oh, well blue is the future of English football.
missed a great chance to close the gap on chelsea. unless o'shea&evans are replaced in first team either from within the squad or by buying better players we will not win the league or c/league.
we just dont have enough quality in the squad to compete with chelsea. if one looks at our starting eleven then its obvious its larking quality, we should not be expecting scholes to be brilliant in every game given his age but its clear we are. we do not control games anymore even against the so called smaller teams, and for a team to control a game they need to have a strong midfield which we dont have.
ps, unless rooney rediscovers his scoring touch then we will struggle this season, berbatov is a decent player but not the kind who will score enough goals to win championships. so unless hernarndez is given a proper chance to score the goals then its gonna be long hard season for us.
still no value in the market sir alex? its already come back to bite him hard!
Come on muppets were are you all now after coming on the blue side gloating about us doing you a favour,you cant even do your self one.HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA .
A bad day at the office. We didn't look like United today, apart from Nani.
But on a bad day, we grab a point away by coming back in the match twice. We still havn't lost, and that's a new situation at this point of the season.
I think today showed that 442 make us vulnerable in midfield. Against Valencia I think SAF will play 451. But that leaves a few questions.
Will Rooney play midfield or on the left?
Or if not, will Anderson or Gibson actually play in stead of him, or will he drop Berbatov?
Owen looks like a weapon now. Someone you believe can score a goal. Unfortunately I can't say the same about Macheda.
The opening of the season have been fairly good. But it does rise a few questions. I reckon that's the situation in London as well. Both our title contenders have shown signs of weaknes.
Well done Bolton,you did us a favour today. But then again,we beat our closest rival yesterday,so 'Nitids results are immaterial now.
It´s a shame we didnt capitalize on Chelsea losing yesterday. I have a feeling we wont be offered too many opportunities to catch up with them. Nice to see Owen score after coming on, and generally, I thought Nani looked good. But I wonder whether Bolton away, a physically stronger team, may necessitate us playing 5 in midfield. Good to see that Rooney was subbed when proving ineffective, on the 60minute mark I think it was. Maybe give him a rest for a game or two, in all seriousness. We have 3 strikers waiting for a chance and if someone is not performing, others should get a chance (mind, I dont think it will take long for Rooney to regain his confidence, maybe feeling the competition a bit more might nudge him forwards)
I still think we need to be playing with two wingers in each game, by that I mean real wingers, who have pace. Fingers crossed that Obertan and Bebe can start breaking into the team, as Nani is currently the only creative spark in the team apart from Scholes (who cannot play every game for us, great as he still is the legend).
Not strenghthening the midfield, I'm afraid, is going to cost us dearly. We simply cannot play 2 up front against anyone, as our midfiled is not good enough. Games are becoming far too open, we are becoming like a mid table team & we could just end up there, as we haven't played anybody of any substance yet. We are not winning away games & if the home game against liverpool is anything to go by we are going to struggle against the " top six " at home too.
RUBBISH UNITED
same old story,absolute abysmal cant defend,oshea,evans stand out a mile not good enough,manager past his sell by date but trust me dark times ahead,dont blame the glaziers blame ferguson,his time is up but will he resign not a prayer not unless he,s given a massive payoff,tactically niave but time and time again you all come on here defending him.you wont be told till its too late .i bet as i type this message real madrid and barcelona are plotting there raids for oshea and evans come on they arent just bobbins recently there permantly bobbins .it beggars belief with the squad we have we should be rolling the likes of fulham,everton,bolton.cast your mind back to gerard pique looked nothing special here under ferguson,goes to barcelona under guardiola looks different class ,must be the sun cant possibly be the managers can it no surely not,i mean im a nobody and evans has stuggled in the air against zamora,cahill etc even i thought he would have kevin davies in his pocket ,come on who thought he would struggle but all you fergie lovers and you know who you all are look what he,s done in the PAST cant have a wrong word said about him,it doesnt matter he,s made millions out of us for doing it i mean he,s not a greedy man like the bbc imply because if they were lying surely he would sue them wouldnt he.anyway back to the issues didnt we give 2 goals away last week just trying to rack my brains which 2 players were at fault.did i hear someone just say it were evans and oshea,what them 2 again no your avin me on anyway only 3 days to wait before we make fools of areselves again,getting used to it now
I predicted the outcome of this game. See my comments in the title "Bolton v United: Preview".
Having said that, let's face it, United is not an away team this year. They have yet to win an away game. All away games have been draws snatched from the claws of defeat. Even home games have come at the expense of nail biting. Barely squeeking by.
No early convincing wins means nothing this year. Forget any trophies forget any championships. All of that under the watch of SIr Alex!
How much we fans have to suffer? Can we end this saga? When?
Sir Alex, please, please pack up and leave. I for one had enough agony!
To Moston Blue, we are still unbeaten in the League, only 3 points off Chelsea and still above you're tiny club so what is your point exactly you silly bitter blue? To the game itself, another exciting game involving United but that's all because Fergie persists on playing O'Shea and Evans as they can't defend. Time to give Smalling a chance? Can't be any worse than Evans.
The mighty Bolton..Ho Ho Ho get used to it .
United were rubbish. They keep conceding cheap goals esp. from corners and Nani's goal aside they were sadly short of inspiration.
Where is the ruthlessness of old?