Sir Alex Aims To Stay Ahead

Sir Alex Ferguson says it's vital United remain in front of Manchester City in the coming weeks, now that months of chasing top spot have paid off.

The Reds' 1-0 triumph over Fulham on Monday night secured a three-point advantage over Manchester City. And even if the Blues beat Sunderland at home on Saturday, the reigning champions will regain top spot at the end of this round of fixtures if defeat is avoided at Blackburn on Monday night.

"Hopefully we can remain there but we also know that football can turn on you and bite you," Sir Alex told reporters on Thursday. "We have a small advantage, it’s not a great advantage; it can be changed in one game. We just have to take each game as it comes along, it’s the only thing we can do.

"Once the Fulham game was over the focus was on Monday night [at Blackburn] and after that it’s the game against Queens Park Rangers. That’s the way we need to handle it."

Experience of going the distance so many times is something that the manager believes will, as ever, stand his team in good stead for the season's finale.

"Most of the players have had the experience... Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Rooney," added Sir Alex. "There are some of the young ones that aren’t accustomed to it like Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young, David De Gea, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. You've got the likes of Fabio and Rafael who have been involved for two or three years so they’re used to it; both have been in European final squads as well. They gather experience that way. It hopefully helps them in the run-in.

"I think Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes and Carrick help in that situation. If they were to lose their nerve then we would be in trouble! But I don’t expect that, I think they’re well accustomed to it."