The champions returned to the top of the table and overtook Liverpool thanks to a collector's item - a rare right-foot match-winning goal from 35-year-old 10-time title-winner.
The Welshman's winner against West Ham enabled United to record their ninth 1-0 of the campaign, eight of which have come in the record-breaking 13 league game run of shut-outs run by 38-year-old keeper Edwin Van der Sar and the Reds' defence.
And Fergie paid tribute to his old guard
"We have a challenge in terms of all the clean sheets we are keeping and it is a great motivation for the players, particularly for Edwin," said the United manager.
"He has everyone jumping out of their skin at the moment because of the record. When you have that foundation, you are always hoping one of your skilful players can win the game for you. Today it was Ryan.
"I am searching my memory bank for the last time he scored with his right foot. I think it was against Coventry 12 years ago. Of all the things!
"He is a credit to the game. If anyone wants an example of how to dedicate themselves to football, you could have no greater example than Ryan Giggs.
"It was a fantastic performance from the back four. They kept their concentration and focus. There was a moment when they got into our six-yard box and it looked like West Ham would get a clear shot on goal but they kept getting their foot in and getting the ball cleared.
"For Manchester United to go over 20 hours without conceding a goal is extraordinary because normally it is 4-3.
"It is great credit to the players. I am very proud of them.
"It was an important win. West Ham are always difficult opponents for us.
"The atmosphere here is fantastic and they are a very good team that is in great form."
Challenge
United have a game in hand on second-placed Liverpool and are two points ahead of the Merseysiders.
They are now also seven points ahead of Chelsea and 12 in front of Arsenal, the other duo in the Big Four.
But Ferguson certainly won’t be writing off beleaguered Phil Scolari’s London challenge.
“It is going to be difficult for Chelsea, it is fair to say, but in the context of football as we know it, mistakes can be made,” he added. “We had an 11-point lead over Arsenal in 1998 and lost it. We are not counting our chickens and we don’t think we should because this game can come and bite you.
“We are saying in the dressing room that this is a fantastic result and performance. It is time to kick on.”
Match-winner Giggs struck his first league goal of the campaign but was quick to praise his defenders.
“We’re not giving much away at the back and we know we’ve got players to create chances – Edwin and the lads at the back have been brilliant – but I’m glad to score the winning goal,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola paid tribute to United’s defensive qualities as goalkeeper van der Sar broke two more goalkeeping records.
Van der Sar has not been beaten for 1,212 minutes but he is protected by a defence that earned special plaudits from the West Ham coach.
“I knew it would be difficult if they scored first,” admitted Zola. “You don’t expect a team like that to be so strong defensively.
“You expect them to be so good going forward. But Sir Alex has done a great job as always and they look very, very strong.
“For me it has been a positive match, I know that we lost but today we were playing against the best team in Europe, if not the world, and we just lost by one goal.
“I am happy for my team. It has been another step forward for us even though we lost the game.
“I am sure it won’t be easy for anybody to come here and beat us but they did it in a very professional way.”
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red (09/02/2009 at 09:00)