TWELVE months ago Manchester United's Premiership title romp suffered a minor hiccup - the Reds allowed rivals Arsenal to move to within 16 points of the leadership!

Shock, horror the Gunners were about to chip away at the massive gap the champions had amassed with just 17 games of the campaign played.

United travelled to London to take on Charlton Athletic at the Valley and when Roy Keane stuck United's third after 66 minutes having turned around a 10th minute Shaun Bartlett opener, the championship race looked as good as over.

Across the Thames in north London Arsenal were steaming towards a 5-0 victory over Newcastle but even so they were just hanging on to United's coat-tails by their fingertips.

However, a glimmer of hope was seized upon at Highbury when news came through that United had dramatically let their lead slip and Charlton had gained a 3-3 draw in the final 11 minutes.

What would have been an 18-point lead was down to 16 and the nation's hopes that the one-horse Premiership canter may turn into a two-horse race were briefly ignited.

Though United lost to Liverpool in their next match at Old Trafford it was only a minor blip and by New Year's Day when they turned on the style against West Ham it was all but officially accepted that the destiny of the crown was cut and dried.

Contrast

What a difference a year makes.

The Reds' plunge from the invincible Kings of England to today's ninth-placed also-ran berth is there for all to see in stark black and white.

This time a year ago United had played 17 matches and had dropped only 11 points from August to December.

Now 24 points have been surrendered in just 15 matches and the Reds trail Liverpool by 11 points, the Anfielders having a game in hand.

United have lost six matches already this season. At this stage last year they had been beaten on just one occasion, at Arsenal, and had 12 wins in comparison to six this term.

United were steamrollering sides and had chalked up 44 goals in the league.

In those opening 17 games last term the United defence had conceded just 13 goals. They were to end the campaign as the meanest rearguard in the Premiership.

And, incidentally, their solidity was achieved in the main without Jaap Stam who after playing in the opening four matches was sidelined following an Achilles operation and was forced to watch a Gary Neville-led defence become the bedrock of United's runaway title victory.

Those 13 goals conceded in 17 matches have turned into a disastrous 27 in 15 games with only West Ham and Leicester conceding less.

Are you shocked by how this season is panning out for the Reds? Have your say