Manchester United defeated Wigan Athletic 2-0 to retain the Premier League title by two points from Chelsea in the tightest finish to the season for years.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs scored the goals to put their side clear of Avram Grant's team, who could only draw 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers after conceding a late equaliser.

Ronaldo converted a first-half penalty after Wayne Rooney was tripped by Emmerson Boyce and then Giggs kept his nerve to convert a through ball from Wayne Rooney after the interval.

Giggs came on as a substitute only a quarter of an hour earlier to make his 758th United appearance and equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record number of appearances. Giggs, though, is likely to eclipse that mark in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21.

Wigan put up a commendable fight, controlling possession for periods and creating as many chances as their opponents. Emile Heskey was particularly dangerous and went close with two headers, while Antonio Valencia provided flashes of inspiration on the flanks.

Michael Brown, Jason Koumas and Marcus Bent also failed to convert half chances, while Ronaldo was relatively subdued until he equalled Alan Shearer's Premier League record goal-haul of 31. The Portuguese sent Chris Kirkland, the Wigan goalkeeper, the wrong way from the spot.

Sir Alex Ferguson had said that a hip injury meant Rooney would appear on the bench at best, so the striker's presence in the starting line-up was a surprise. He justified his selection when he won the penalty by pouncing on to the ball after Paul Scharner let it slide under his foot.

Several Wigan players surrounded the referee Steve Bennett to complain that Boyce was penalised for his intervention, though they had a stronger argument for being the victims of a misjustice when Paul Scholes barged Wilson Palacios over by the touchline a couple of minutes later.

The United midfielder had already been booked for a foul on the same player and Bennett would have been justified in sending him off but instead issued a final warning.

United began the second-half much improved. Kirkland stopped an excellent Ronaldo free kick as well as efforts from Rooney and Carlos Tevez, while United were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for Titus Bramble's lunge on Scholes.

Rooney was booked for complaining about a free-kick awarded but quickly made amends by sending an expert pass to Giggs, who scored with ten minutes remaining.