Owen rescues United in draw with Bolton

LONDON (AFP) Michael Owen scored his 200th goal in English club football as Manchester United twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw against Bolton in the Premier League on Sunday. Former Liverpool and England star Owen glanced in a 74th-minute header to give United a share of the points at the Reebok Stadium after Bolton had twice taken the lead through Zat Knight and Martin Petrov. The draw saw United leapfrog Arsenal into second place in the table, three points behind league leaders Chelsea. In a later kick-off, new Aston Villa manager Gerard Houlliers first league match in charge of the Birmingham club saw them move up into fifth place as they won 2-1 away to Midlands rivals Wolves. Houllier was indebted to Emile Heskey for the second time in a week as the former England strikers late goal sealed victory after he inspired a midweek comeback League Cup win over Blackburn Rovers. In Bolton, Owen expressed disappointment that Sir Alex Fergusons men had missed an opportunity to reduce Chelseas lead to only a point after the champions were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City on Saturday. Its always a tough place to come. We created enough chances and dominated so were disappointed to only get a point, Owen said, playing down the significance of his 200th goal in England. Its nice to score goals but its obviously tinged with a bit of disappointment because we didnt get the three points. Asked about failing to capitalise on Saturdays results, which saw both leaders Chelsea and Arsenal beaten, Ferguson added: Teams drop points when we dont expect them. Away from home weve scored seven goals and only got three points, its a very difficult league. Bolton had taken a shock lead after six minutes when Knight punished some slack marking from United centre-half Jonny Evans to flick home a Petrov corner with the outside of his right boot. United finally got back on level terms though midway through the half with a scintillating individual effort from Nani. After gathering the ball on halfway, the Portuguese international set off on a weaving run that took him to the edge of the Bolton area, and as the home defence backed off, the winger unleashed a hard low shot past Jaaskelainen. United though were then rocked by Boltons second goal on 67 minutes, Petrov rounding off a superb counter-attack which he had started by scoring with a rasping effort that took a big deflection off Darren Fletcher. Bolton should have made it 3-1 shortly afterwards, when Johan Elmander cleverly eluded Nemanja Vidic to go clear on goal only to blaze his shot over the bar. Wanderers were left to rue their profligacy moments later when Owen, who had replaced Fletcher, glanced in his landmark goal in club football. It seemed Villa would have to settle for a point until Heskey signed by then Liverpool manager Houllier for 11 million pounds a decade ago headed in Stephen Warnocks cross two minutes from time for what was his third goal in four games. It was the perfect return because we got three points, Houllier said. Emiles header was fantastic, Houllier added after Heskeys first league start in six months. Stewart Downing put Villa ahead at Molineux before Matt Jarvis equalised just after the hour mark. In the days other Premier League match, Stoke came from behind to win 2-1 away to Newcastle. Kevin Nolan put the Magpies ahead from the penalty spot after Robert Huth fouled Andy Carroll before Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones equalised with a 67th minute header. But the visitors secured victory five minutes before full-time when Newcastles James Perch headed into his own net from a Stoke corner.

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