Substitute Michael Owen headed a goal with his first touch of the game to give Manchester United a point from a 2-2 draw with Bolton in the Premier League on Sunday.
The former England striker came off the bench in the 71st minute and glanced home Nani's free kick three minutes later to put United second in the table - three points behind Chelsea and one above Arsenal.
''It's always a tough place to come but we created enough chances and dominated most of the game. We're disappointed to only get a point,'' said Owen, who scored twice against Scunthorpe in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Portugal winger Nani's superb solo goal had earlier canceled out the opener scored by Zat Knight, but Martin Petrov put United's northwest neighbor Bolton in the lead again with a deflected shot in the 67th minute.
Manager Alex Ferguson will be frustrated his side could not capitalize more on the slipups by rivals on Saturday - Chelsea lost 1-0 at Manchester City, and Arsenal was defeated 3-2 at home by West Bromwich Albion.
''With the results this weekend, it was an opportunity to close that gap at the top but it wasn't to be,'' Owen said. ''We were helped with a few nice results but it's a long season and we'll bounce back.''
Bolton manager Owen Coyle said his side was unfortunate not to have taken all three points.
''I felt having led twice we had opportunities to see the game through. I thought the performance was outstanding,'' Coyle said. ''There is a tinge of disappointment but I'm very pleased with how the lads went about it.''
Bolton opened brightly and took the lead in the sixth minute when Petrov's left-wing corner was flicked in by center back Knight, who got to the ball just ahead of Jonny Evans.
Conceding that early goal sparked United into life and the visitors laid siege to Bolton's goal, with Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher forcing saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen.
United deservedly equalized through Nani, who picked the ball up on halfway and set off on a run through the Bolton defense before shooting low into the corner from 20 yards.
United remained in charge but Bolton held out until half time and started the second half impressively.
Petrov fired just over from 25 yards and Bolton's physical front pairing of Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander gave United center backs Nemanja Vidic and Evans no peace.
The ineffective Rooney was taken off by Ferguson in the 61st and Bolton went ahead for the second time six minutes later. Petrov cut inside and saw his right-foot shot flick off Fletcher and past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at his near post.
Owen was then introduced for Fletcher and made an immediate impact when he made a darting run to the near post and headed Nani's free kick off the far post for his 200th career goal.
Elmander had a chance to win the match for Bolton but the Sweden striker dragged an 84th-minute shot across the face of goal.
''Bolton were a real handful and our chances were reduced but we must take credit for coming back again, it shows a bit of character,'' Ferguson said. ''I thought it was a fair result.''
Ferguson added that Ryan Giggs, who was substituted in the second half, would be out for two weeks with a hamstring injury.
