Sir Alex: We Thrive On Drama

Sir Alex Ferguson says snatching vital results in the dying stages of games is an intrinsic trait that runs through the club's history.

In analysing the key moments of this season, the manager pointed to the epic comeback at Chelsea and injury-time victory at Norwich, both in February, as well as last Monday's win at Blackburn, courtesy of two goals in the final 10 minutes, as further examples of the Reds' never-say-die attitude.

"Over the years we have had these moments when we have scored late goals," says the manager. "Look back to 1993 and Sheffield Wednesday, two goals in the last nine minutes of injury-time. It is part of our history. We don't give in.

"We are capable of scoring late goals. It is not an accident. There is a thread relating to the history of the club that way for many years now.

"This season you could point to the recovery at Chelsea, or you could point to Norwich or Monday night. With nine minutes to go it was still 0-0, but the players didn't give in. They kept their intensity and concentration really well. That was the plus point on Monday. The intensity of our game was brilliant and our concentration was great."

United's ability to salvage something from seemingly impossible situations or find a way to turn one point into three in the dying stages of games is a quality which has reaped the Reds so many rewards - at home and abroad - during Sir Alex's 25-year reign.

Having spent much of this campaign chasing rivals Manchester City, the Reds now find themselves in pole position at the top of the table with a five-point lead. Sir Alex says he always believed his side could make up the ground on the Blues and insists it's now vital United maintain the advantage.

"You have to grind results out and keep going and hope the team in front of you make mistakes or lose points," he explained. "You drop points in this league. It's a fact. We all drop points. No-one goes through a season without dropping points.

"It is about when you drop them and, on the run-in, your aim is not to drop as many as your immediate opponents, which we haven't done. We are in a good spell and are getting players back so there is some freshness in the team at the moment. Hopefully we can keep it going."