An entertaining 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford put Manchester United within touching distance of a record-breaking 19th league title.
Explosive start at Old Trafford gives Fergie the chance to make history
It was expected to be tense and cagey, but it took Manchester United just 36 seconds to move to within touching distance of a record-breaking 19th league title in an eventual 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
The current United squad is not recognised as a classic Sir Alex Ferguson collection, however, it is now only one point away from being the group who eclipse the 18 top-flight titles of bitter foes Liverpool.
While some vintage United traits may be lacking, the characteristics of committed and brave football which have been institutionalised at Old Trafford during Ferguson's almost quarter-of-a-century-in charge have always been present.
And no more so than against closest title rivals Chelsea, in one of the most important games of the 2010/11 season, in what was a blistering opening at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, was there evidence of United's courage in conviction.
With just more than half-a-minute on the clock, Javier Hernandez pounced on a David Luiz mistake, before, in the 23rd minute, captain Nemanja Vidic showed more desire than Branislav Ivanovic to score United's second.
After several weeks of anticipation, a brooding Carlo Ancelotti, who only used £50million Fernando Torres as a substitute after the hour mark, could not hide his fury that his players had thrown away the resurgence of a 10-game unbeaten run in the league.
An instinctive Frank Lampard goal raised some hope, but the wobbly Luiz and ineffective John Obi Mikel had both been substituted at half-time and Ancelotti can now only hope for huge favours from United's remaining opponents, Blackburn and Blackpool.
Ferguson, in contrast, can put the champagne on ice as he prepares to fulfil his pledge to 'knock Liverpool off their perch', while, having also wrecked Chelsea's European dreams, he looks forward to a Wembley UEFA Champions League final and what would be a remarkable Double.
Effective
Built up as the title decider for a week, so important Ferguson selected a shadow side for a Champions League semi-final, these matches are so often a disappointment. Not this one. Not when United were ahead so quickly.
Ancelotti must have been devastated to concede quite so simply so early in the game. Ryan Giggs began the move, stroking a short pass forward for Park Ji-sung, who turned out to be one of United's most effective players.
The South Korean knew Hernandez would be right on the shoulder of the last defender. He could not legislate for that defender failing to cut out the pass.
Ancelotti made his feelings known about that in the aftermath as he berated Luiz from the touchline. Hernandez was not hanging about to consider it, darting forward before burying his 20th goal of the season into the bottom corner.
Old Trafford erupted and then watched spellbound as their team produced an awesome display of attacking power.
Wayne Rooney was agonisingly close on two occasions, Hernandez should have tucked home Park's far-post cross despite Luiz's touch. Park himself brought an excellent save from Petr Cech.
From the latter effort, United gained the corner that brought their second as first Salomon Kalou, then Ivanovic fell asleep.
Kalou's crime was to allow Park to race past him and play a short corner with Giggs. The Ivorian was then beaten too easily as the excellent Giggs nipped to the byline before dropping a cross into the heart
