Carrick: Belief key to success

Michael Carrick has revealed the key to Manchester United's repeated ability to drag points from the most unpromising of situations is never to stop believing they can win.

United's hopes of victory against Bolton at Old Trafford seemed to disappear when they were reduced to 10 men following the late dismissal of defender Jonny Evans for a challenge on American Stuart Holden.

Matthew Taylor should have converted a free header for the visitors late on, before United went on to collect maximum points thanks to Dimitar Berbatov's 21st goal of the season.

At the same time, nearest rivals Arsenal were dropping two points in a 2-2 draw at West Brom to hand the title initiative back to the Red Devils heading into an international break that has come at just the right time for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men.

"You have to keep believing and trusting each other," said Carrick.

"Experience helps because we have done it a few times before.

"Going into the last five minutes you keep telling each other to be patient and that a chance will come. Then it is about putting it away."

Berbatov was the right man at the right time, scoring his first goal in almost two months, since when he has started only four out of United's 12 matches.

United assistant boss Mike Phelan was thrust into the role of pitch–side director as Ferguson began his five–match touchline ban, handed down by the FA following the Scot’s criticism of referee Martin Atkinson.

The wisdom of accepting a guilty verdict on Thursday and asking for the suspension to begin immediately was shown by the ease with which Ferguson was able to communicate with the bench by telephone from his seat in the directors' box.

It is an advantage he will not have when United head to West Ham in a fortnight, or face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi–final at Wembley on April 16.