Park strikes late as United scramble past Wolves

Park Ji-Sung was Manchester United's saviour on Saturday as he struck twice, the second deep into stoppage time, to clinch a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers that cut Chelsea's Premier League lead to two points.

Misfiring United seemed set for a sixth league draw in 11 matches until South Korea midfielder Park pounced in the 93rd minute to sink a Wolves team who drew level after the break through Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

United's last-gasp victory was soured, however, by the sight of former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves limping off five minutes into his first start for more than two years.

Unbeaten United moved above Arsenal into second spot with 23 points from 11 games, two behind Chelsea who play Liverpool on Sunday. Arsenal, who have 20, are also in action on Sunday against Newcastle United.

Tottenham Hotspur fell to earth with a thud after their midweek Champions League win over Inter Milan, losing 4-2 at Bolton Wanderers who moved above the London club into fifth position thanks to two goals by Kevin Davies.

Bottom club West Ham United squandered a 2-0 lead at Birmingham City to draw 2-2 while Everton and Blackpool also shared four goals.

Asamoah Gyan's double gave Sunderland a 2-0 win over Stoke City while Fulham equalised late in a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa. Blackburn Rovers also beat Wigan Athletic 2-1.

POOR DISPLAY

United welcomed back Hargreaves after the Canadian-born player's battle with chronic tendinitis in both knees but his appearance was short-lived as he hobbled off after a run down the right flank.

It set the tone for a poor United display and Wolves will feel unlucky not to have taken a point.

With no Dimitar Berbatov or Nani, and Wayne Rooney heading for the United States to continue his rehabilitation from injury, the hosts looked toothless in attack and were lucky Park was in such lively form.

United had offered little when Park moved on to a defence-splitting pass by Darren Fletcher and finished with deadly accuracy in the 45th minute.

Ebanks-Blake, formerly on the books at Old Trafford, came off the bench to silence the home crowd when he fired past keeper Edwin van der Sar after 66 minutes.

It could have got worse for United when Steven Fletcher blasted over the bar for Wolves but, as they so often do, United found a man for the occasion and Park weaved in from the right before planting a crisp shot past the despairing dive of Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann.