WITH nine games to go in the title race 12 months ago Chelsea held a 15-point advantage over United, but then Jose Mourinho's side lost at Fulham.

With six games to go, Sir Alex Ferguson's resurgent side had reduced the lead to seven points, when Chelsea drew at Birmingham City while the Reds won at Bolton.

The Londoners had to show championship-winning grit to hit back. And it never got any closer than that, as the champions rallied and then won the crown again against the Reds at Stamford Bridge .

This time around, United have only to avoid a similar blip to turn the tables on their London rivals.

Chelsea were buoyant last March before they came unstuck at Craven Cottage, just as United are now on a high after their smash-and-grab raids at Fulham and Liverpool.

The Reds look unstoppable and only an attack of nerves or complacency can seemingly halt them now.

Veteran title warrior Fergie is unlikely to allow either to happen. And with seasoned title-winning campaigners Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes around - the latter punctuated by a three-match ban for his red card at Anfield - plus Edwin Van der Sar, the boss has the wherewithal to plot a successful route through any minefields in the final two months.

Fergie's major task is how to handle the squad. Does he allow the main players to plough on, as in 1999 when they relished the gruelling finale and the momentum took them to the Treble?

Or does he tinker to freshen the troops up?

The latter seems to be his course of action, though many fans will tell you they would prefer to see his first choice side, injuries and suspensions allowing, to hog all the match time in the run-in. But with five Old Trafford Premiership matches on the schedule and a slightly easier looking final programme than Chelsea, it is hard to see the Reds tripping up now.

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