English FA Premiership/ Sheffield Utd 1 Manchester Utd 2: A roar went up when three minutes of stoppage-time were announced: enough conceivably for an excuse to pile in on Edwin van der Sar and somehow scramble an equaliser. In fact the noise level flatlined within moments as Sheffield United were at full stretch simply to contain the visitors. There is a conviction about the Premiership leaders unseen since they last took the title in 2003.

It was essential on Saturday. With winter stamping its feet at the turnstiles the occasion did not offer comfort. Manchester United shivered all the more when Derek Geary crossed and their former player Keith Gillespie was unmarked to direct the header that put them 1-0 down after 13 minutes.

The recovery was irresistible but not at all belligerent. Alex Ferguson's team have sufficient faith in themselves to be calmly insistent. Anyone seeking explanations for the recovery would point out that Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are in their best form for years. That pair, in turn, were probably galvanised by the realisation that they might not after all have to spend the closing phase of their careers as also-rans to Chelsea.

There has been a range of improvements and it would be wrong, for instance, to ignore the vigilant Nemanja Vidic, who differs from the rest of the back four in being interested solely in defending. The side as a whole has put Ferguson in a laid-back mood. "I couldn't get him out of my office," Neil Warnock said of the pre-match ritual.

The Sheffield United manager was in a hurry to deliver some last-minute exhortation to his men. Ferguson felt no need to do so. "It's the most relaxed I've seen him and that's because he's got a hell of a good team," said Warnock. Wayne Rooney, in particular, is raising serenity levels. His goals here showed him reaching a balance between creativity and marksmanship.

He has no reason to typecast himself by staying deep when he can strike as he did at Bramall Lane. Claude Davis lost track of him at each goal. For the equaliser in the 30th minute, Rooney controlled Gary Neville's left-foot through-ball with one touch and finished with the next. With a quarter of an hour left, he won the game by volleying in Patrice Evra's delivery.

Manchester United could have scored on several other occasions. Cristiano Ronaldo can be astonishing, but Ferguson will not have enjoyed marvelling at the winger's capacity to fire over an open goal from five yards, as he did here from a Giggs cross after 88 minutes. Still there are scant recriminations to be traded at Old Trafford.

Chelsea have to go there next Sunday knowing defeat will leave them six points behind. "We finally have a title race and that's why (Ferguson) has got the glint in his eye," said Warnock. "It couldn't come at a better time."

The Sheffield United manager weighs Manchester United flair against Chelsea rigour and, unlike his winger Gillespie, stops short of predicting that Ferguson will regain the title.

Warnock's men are just starting to think they can cope with the Premiership and were limited in the problems they could set. The victors have to build momentum this week, from tomorrow's potentially troublesome Champions League fixture at Celtic to Sunday's confrontation with Jose Mourinho's team. There may be adjustments along the way and Gabriel Heinze, for instance, may feature in Glasgow.

The Sheffield United manager is no soft touch and the club's supporters must be bemused to find him so appreciative of visitors who had taken all three points, but Warnock did not want to stifle his admiration. "They've got flair, panache, arrogance, everything you need," he said. "Of course I'm envious."

He also sees the ripening of the match-winner: "Rooney is the king in our eyes and that's why Steve McClaren has to hope everything stays fresh with him and play him in his best position. I can't see a problem with him playing behind that front man.

"That's the best place for him. If you play Rooney there then you're going to score goals.

"He's had a few blows this summer (in the World Cup) but he is only a young lad. When you are our best player in England and one of the best players in the world then it does hurt you when you get criticised. I think he's answered that in the right way. You don't see the nastiness in him. He's more controlled in that respect."

At their peak under Ferguson it was inconceivable the public would ever get sentimental over a rampantly successful United. Their recent years of failure have rehabilitated them, however, and the league in general might like to see them win on Sunday. With the popularity contest in the bag the team is now becoming better equipped to compete with Chelsea on the field.

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