ALEX FERGUSON has hailed Manchester United’s ability to score vital late goals as a “thread” running through the club’s domination of the Premier League.

On Monday evening Blackburn Rovers were defeated by two strikes in the last 10 minutes, from Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.

A Ryan Giggs 89th-minute winner at Norwich City in a 2-1 win and the comeback from three down at Chelsea to claim a draw earlier in the year also echoed late shows by Ferguson’s teams in previous title-winning seasons.

Ferguson said: “Over the years we’ve had these moments when we’ve scored late goals.

“You go back to ’93 and Sheffield Wednesday, two goals in the last minutes [to win 2-1 on the way to their first Premier League title]. It’s part of the history that we don’t give in, we are capable of scoring late goals.

“And it’s not an accident because there’s a thread that relates to the club that way. It’s been obvious for many, many years.

“You could point to the recovery at Chelsea and the Norwich game, or you could point to Monday night because with nine minutes to go it’s 0-0.

“But they don’t give in. They kept their intensity and concentration really well and that was the plus point on Monday night.”

Ferguson highlighted Valencia and David de Gea for their performances in this crucial period.

“Although we had all that retention of the ball, De Gea has had three fantastic saves. He has kept us in the game. And his form and his maturity is going to be key to us. Every game he is getting better.

“As far as Valencia’s form – what can I say? He’s been unbelievable since he’s come back. Absolutely brilliant. With players back, there’s some freshness in the team at the moment so hopefully we can keep it going.”

Nani is available after recovering from an ankle injury and the Scot said he may rotate his squad to avoid fatigue.

If United defeat Queens Park Rangers tomorrow afternoon Manchester City will be eight points behind when they kick off at Arsenal.

“Well, Arsenal is a difficult place to go to,” Ferguson said. “Even when they’re not playing well it’s always a difficult ground.”

Ferguson denied Valencia needs an operation to remove a plate in his ankle in the close season. “I don’t know where that story has come from. It’s never been on the agenda or discussed. He has a plate in there and at the moment it stays there.”

After Roberto Mancini, the City manager, admitted he could have punched Mario Balotelli, Ferguson said he shared his exasperation and sometimes he felt like he could “strangle” players.

Meanwhile, QPR boss Mark Hughes believes there is a “sense of inevitability” about the title going to United at this stage – but he is hoping to cause an upset tomorrow.

“I think at this stage of the season there is a little bit of a sense of inevitability,” the Welshman said.

“United have been in this situation so many times before, City haven’t and I think that can be key in this situation.

“You sense that United are looking at fixtures, taking each game on its merits and just ticking off games they have to play from now until the end of the season.

“Obviously we’re hopeful that we’re going to have a performance that will upset that plan in terms of what United expect from the game.

“That is certainly our intention and we’re not just going there to lie down and lose the game.

“Our intention is to get something out of the game because of the situation we find ourselves in.

“We’ll make it difficult for them but you certainly sense that, because of the situation and the turnaround that has occurred, United are in the box seat.

“You would be very surprised if they lost it from the position they find themselves in now.”

While United will hope to edge closer to retaining the title, QPR’s aspirations are at the other end of the table.

They are running out of games to stave off relegation but head to the north west on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 victory against Arsenal.

“The three points was the main thing but the pleasing part from my point of view was the manner of the performance,” Hughes said.