IF Jose Mourinho really believes in conspiracy theories in English football, he could have a field day with this one. Manchester United, 2-0 down, were thrown a lifeline by Everton's stand-in goalkeeper, then gifted three further goals, one knocked into his own net by former United hero Phil Neville.

Combined with Chelsea's second successive draw, it means United, with their vastly superior goal difference, need only four more points to become champions even if they lose at Stamford Bridge.

The jubilant travelling support managed to hold back until the final whistle but could wait no longer. Tempting fate, they let rip with "Champions!

Champions!" Alex Ferguson, having raced onto the pitch in celebration, did not seem inclined to disagree. There is work to be done yet, but it would take defeat by Manchester City next Saturday to throw United off course now.

Everton appeared to be capable of doing that soon after half time when Manuel Fernandes struck a second on the break to add to Alan Stubbs's early free-kick. United simply threw even more men forward, dominating the rest of the game and scoring four times in the final halfhour to total an extraordinary 122 goals in all competitions. The identity of three of the scorers was a surprise: John O'Shea offered hope; Neville put through his own goal; and Chris Eagles, a sub, wrapped things up in added time. The crucial goal, however, had an inevitable feel about it, Wayne Rooney shrugging off the boos from those who once idolised him for his 23rd of the season.

Everton will be paid an extra �500,000 if United win the title, as part of Rooney's transfer fee. That will hardly compensate them for the misery of this defeat, which they will have regarded as selfinflicted. The first three goals all stemmed from horrible errors. With Tim Howard ineligible, Iain Turner was in goal and his mistake dropping a corner at O'Shea's feet offered United the boost they needed.

"I can't explain the game, " Ferguson said. "I didn't think we did badly but they had two great strikes and that can happen. I never thought we were out of it even at 2-0 down." United do not know any other way.

At times in the first half, however, they were second to the ball and did not get the best from a formation in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer worked the right and Rooney the left, with Ryan Giggs flitting behind Alan Smith.

Whether it was the emotion generated by the death of Alan Ball, Everton's own pursuit of a Uefa Cup place or simple dislike of United, the home side were the more impressive early on. And they had a goal to their name after 12 minutes.

The impressive Mikel Arteta was fouled 30 yards out and Stubbs hit a fierce freekick past Edwin van der Sar with the help of Michael Carrick's deflection. United were coming back into the game, particularly after the restart, so it was all the more surprising, then, that Everton should score the next goal.

Fernandes took Arteta's pass and veered away from Wes Brown to shoot into the top corner. Ferguson decided that he would send on Cristiano Ronaldo, who had to be withdrawn from training on Friday, if United could retrieve one goal. Kieran Richardson appeared instead to offer initiative, though it took the first Everton howler to change the face of the game and the standings. Turner dropped Giggs's inswinging corner at the feet of O'Shea who gratefully poked it home.

The force was suddenly with United. Giggs twice put Rooney through without success, but when Carrick took the next corner, Ronaldo headed down and Neville hacked into his own net. With 11 minutes to play O'Shea put Rooney in for a better finish this time and in added time Rooney did the same for Eagles on his Premiership debut. "We want our trophy back, " they sang in the visiting section. It should only be a matter of time.