English Premier League:Alex Ferguson has argued consistently that this would be the season of blips but it would not have comforted him on his flight to South Africa on Sunday night to be proved correct again.
More wealth and stability among the second-tier Premier League clubs prompted Manchester United's manager in August to predict this championship would be claimed with fewer points than the 89 which secured his ninth title last season, or the 91 and 95 that brought Jose Mourinho his two at Chelsea. Only on Friday he dismissed any possible implications from United's draw at White Hart Lane and, in a change of tack from early-season predictions, suggested the title could be determined on the games between the leading trio.
"Points will be dropped by ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea, and maybe the results between us will be more important than ever," he said. "It will be close this year, no question about that."
A return of one point from six in early February will not cause undue alarm in a manager who, as Kevin Keegan and Arsène Wenger can testify, has recovered from greater depths than Sunday's derby defeat by Manchester City. Easter, as the Scot always states, is the time to judge the runners and riders in a title race.
Yet there is justifiable concern within Old Trafford at recent levels of performance and the consistent development of Arsenal. Games among the leading pack may well decide the final outcome, with Wenger's team still to visit United and Chelsea in the league and Ferguson also facing a visit to Stamford Bridge in April.
Ryan Giggs said yesterday, as he reflected on a derby performance most Old Trafford observers rated as United's worst this season: "We probably can't afford to drop any more points. We've got to make sure we don't produce any more performances like that. Defensively we didn't play well. Attacking-wise, we just didn't turn up."
Giggs is being wildly optimistic or overly demanding to insist on a maximum return from United's last 12 games, a suggestion that would defy Ferguson's logic with a final total of 94 points, but his guidance will be invaluable for Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani as they seek their first Premier League title.
Though history states even a 12-point gap can be overturned, the leaders' nerve has rarely wavered in recent seasons. The improvement of City, Everton, Aston Villa and Portsmouth, however, has at least removed an air of predictability
Meanwhile, United captain Gary Neville insists he will return to action amid speculation his injury problems could end his career. The 32-year-old has not played a competitive first-team game for United since damaging ankle ligaments in a game against Bolton in March 2007.
