Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester Utd 2: CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE Manchester United's trade. They understand the business in every detail and knew how to tease a win out of an exacting match at Wigan. As most people had guessed, Alex Ferguson had not so much been losing a lead in recent weeks as employing it. When defeat had to be borne at Stamford Bridge, there were proceeds in the rest certain players enjoyed there before the return leg of the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona.
Not even an impresario, though, could have plotted the drama and sentimental appeal of the decisive moment here. Nerves were twanging because Wigan, without insisting on too many saves from Edwin van der Sar, had some slight prospect of a comeback and United had to presume Chelsea were going to win.
Steve Bruce's men were killed off by a footballer who, with 10 Premier League medals now, has such seniority he could almost be seen as a partner in Ferguson's enterprise instead of a mere employee.
Ten minutes from the end Wayne Rooney slid the ball through a gaping central defence and the substitute Ryan Giggs steadied himself before slipping a finish beyond Chris Kirkland. The 34-year-old had also equalled Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances. Hard-headed calculations mean the spotlight will not fall too often on Giggs in the times to come and, indeed, it was Park Ji-sung who was once again favoured for a key match.
There is both romance and restlessness to United under Ferguson. More, perhaps, than any other leading manager he is dedicated to perpetual revolution. He drew on the know-how of a few seasoned figures at the JJB Stadium but the process of transition is gathering pace. In a reflection of the globalisation of sport home-grown players are less common.
One of them should have been escorted away in undignified circumstances. Paul Scholes, already booked for an ugly challenge on Wilson Palacios, ought to have had another caution for the foul that stopped the Honduran from haring free on the right nine minutes before half-time. The clemency from the referee, Steve Bennett, had no justification. Indeed, it punished Wigan by denying them numerical advantage in their efforts to claw back a 1-0 deficit.
The Wigan manager, Steve Bruce, was incensed, too, that a penalty had not been forthcoming early in the match when Rio Ferdinand moved his arm into the path of a Jason Koumas drive. No one at least can quibble over the integrity of a team that did all it could to test United to the limits.
Ferguson's line-up could probably not have been fluent here. The notorious pitch had been relaid but nothing runs smoothly when a squad with so many games in its bones starts to weary. Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, bagged his 31st goal of the league season but his form is waning.
The visitors had brought cares with them to the JJB stadium. Indeed, there was scant option but to treat the occasion as a fitness test for footballers who had no further occasions to demonstrate their readiness for the Champions League final on May 21st.
Nemanja Vidic, back after being concussed at Stamford Bridge, was a straightforward case and showed the usual stringency against Wigan. There may have been greater trepidation about Rooney on a return from a hip injury. He could not establish here that he was in perfect condition but his value was indisputable. Apart from setting up Giggs, he insisted on the best of Kirkland's collection of impressive stops.
Rooney, at 22, is young for so established a performer and Ferguson, much as he acknowledges the faithful servants, is galvanised by the realisation he has a batch of individuals of whom the best is yet to come. He glowed with pride that there had been 26 players he felt bound to take to Wigan in recognition of their status. He extolled the fearlessness of Anderson, yet the Brazilian did not even make the bench.
While this is a United that excites, it is also attuned to conservative thinking. The lead came when Emerson Boyce lunged at Rooney, so inviting Ronaldo to resume normal business by slotting away a penalty for the first time since missing against Barcelona in Camp Nou. The match with Wigan was merely in its 33rd minute but United would have been entirely prepared simply to guard that lead.
Nowadays, the calibre of Ferguson's defence and a tactical approach that gets bodies behind the ball swiftly mean United commonly look resolved to hold what they have. If further goals should be scored, so much the better.
As it was, United did buzz around the Wigan penalty area following the interval but Kirkland relished the attention to pull off save after save before Giggs, at last, left him helpless.
Wigan never gave up the fight. It was a matter of honour but that earnestness did not make them incisive. The crowd's loudest gasp was heard when an Emile Heskey header from a Koumas free-kick went over the bar.
From a Wigan perspective, there were too few close calls in the visitors' goalmouth.
United are champions not simply because of zest or good intentions, but also because they have been hardier than Chelsea over the long examination of the Premier League fixture list.
This triumphant squad is durable and its ambition, too, will not falter in the times to come.
HOW THE TITLE WAS WON THE 10 KEY MATCHES THAT HELPED UNITED
Chelsea 0 Manchester Utd 2
September 23rd, 2007
Jose Mourinho has just left Chelsea, replaced by the unloved Avram Grant, and Chelsea seem shell-shocked, losing meekly to goals from Carlos Tevez and - remember him? - Louis Saha.
Liverpool 0 Manchester Utd 1
December 16th, 2007
United's successes against other Big Four clubs - with 13 points out of a possible 18 - is a big feature of the season, as is Tevez's habit of scoring crucial goals. The Argentinian scores the winner two minutes before half-time.
Manchester Utd 6 Newcastle Utd 0
January 12th, 2008
The six goals United accumulate here (as well as another five at St James' Park in late February) explain to a large extent why Alex Ferguson's team have had the luxury of a superior goal difference to that of Arsenal and Chelsea.
Tottenham 1 Manchester Utd 1
February 2nd, 2008
After winning six games in a row in January, United are in danger of their first loss of 2008 until Tevez scores with virtually the last kick of the game.
Birmingham City 2 Arsenal 2
February 23rd, 2008
The beginning of the end for Arsenal. James McFadden's injury-time penalty denies the league leaders a win. Arsenal have earlier in the match lost Eduardo da Silva with a mangled leg and never recover.
Manchester Utd 3 Liverpool 0
March 23rd, 2008
A performance of authentic brilliance against a Liverpool side that loses all hope after Javier Mascherano's sending-off for persistent chuntering at the referee, Rob Styles.
Manchester Utd 2 Arsenal 1
April 13th, 2008
Arsenal take the lead and look in control but United fight back. Ronaldo equalises from a twice-taken penalty, then Owen Hargreaves curls in a free-kick to dump Arsenal out of the race.
Chelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 1
April 14th, 2008
Chelsea's game of catch-up is derailed by Emile Heskey's stoppage-time volley and Ferguson, watching at home, does a jig of celebration.
Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester Utd 1
April 19th, 2008
Yet another crucial late intervention from Tevez, jabbing out his right foot to beat the previously unbeatable Brad Friedel and rescue a point.
Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester Utd 2
May 11th, 2008
Ryan Giggs celebrates equalling Bobby Charlton's appearance record for United with the second goal. Ronaldo scores the first with a penalty.
