At 1.55 yesterday . . . 50 minutes into both games . . .

Chelsea looked to have wrested the initiative from United as they led Bolton 2-1 while United trailed to Alan Stubb's deflected strike at Goodison. And any solace Ferguson might have got from Kevin Davies' equaliser at Stamford Bridge would have immediately dissolved as Everton's Manuel Fernandes crashed a superb 25-yard strike into the top corner.

However, in the moment the United manager hailed as the game's turning point, a slip by stand-in Everton keeper Iain Turner allowed John O'Shea to poke home on the hour, before Phil Neville unintentionally did his old club one more huge turn by driving a clearance into his own net. On 78 minutes, Everton old-boy Wayne Rooney completed the comeback before Premiership debutant Chris Eagles provided the sweetest touch in stoppage time.

Afterwards, Ferguson glowed with relief . . . and a new confidence. "I feel the momentum is back with us. We have a five-point lead and a superior goal difference, giving us a marvellous chance. But the most important thing is that my lads are having a real go.

That is a smashing attitude to have.

"The game is hard to explain. With what was going on elsewhere, our lead at one stage was down to goal difference. But in football that can happen. Their first one was a bit fortunate to take a deflection past Edwin [van der Sar], and their second was an incredible strike. At that point, we were toying with bringing on [Cristiano] Ronaldo . . . he was carrying an injury. We felt that if we did score we would then bring him on. And we got the break. At that point, I felt it was meant to happen."

Those two results mean a United win at Manchester City combined with a Chelsea defeat with Arsenal will bring a 16th title to Old Trafford.

Predictably, Jose Mourinho resigned himself to the fact the league is as good as decided. "It is almost lost, almost. In football, almost is always a big question mark. It is not over because mathematically there is a chance and we have to believe. It is much more difficult. Manchester United, in this moment, feel very, very close. They can come to Stamford Bridge, lose and still be champions. They are very, very close to it. But we win things as a team and we lose as a team. We do it together in the good and bad moments."

Before then of course, Chelsea can pick themselves up by securing a place in the Champions League final, but they will have to do so without Ricardo Carvalho. Mourinho confirmed the defender is certain to miss the return leg at Liverpool.

No kisses at Stamford Bridge then, just comforting pats of consolation.

RACE FOR THE PREMIERSHIP TITLE P GD Pts Manchester United 35 +56 85 Chelsea 35 +40 80 REMAINING GAMES MANCHESTER UNITED Saturday Man City (a) Wednesday, 9 May Chelsea (a) Sunday, 13 May West Ham (h) CHELSEA Sunday Arsenal (a) Wed, 9 May Man Utd (h) Sunday, 13 May Everton (h)