Another slip from JT when everything is at stake.

Could Manchester United be in a better position as they kick into the Premier League's second lap?

Pedants could point out that; had points not been dropped away to Birmingham, Burnley and Fulham, and at home to Sunderland and Aston Villa, then bookmakers would already be paying out on a fourth consecutive title for Sir Alex Ferguson. But where would be the drama in that?

Ferguson's team are the experts in riding the slipstream of the league leaders for just over half a season and then, at the turn, dropping a gear to catapult past a team which had worked extremely hard to earn themselves the tag of favourites.

But that was in previous seasons, six months ago Chelsea were installed as title favourites, almost by default, when their rivals allowed star players; Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso to make the transition from superstar to Galactico. Arsenal were discounted for the usual reasons, that they needed an entirely new spine in their team of a goalkeeper, centre back, midfielder and centre forward. Arsene Wenger did address one of those concerns with the signing of the excellent Tomas Vermaelen.
Since then the pensioners have not been the consistent machine that we grew to loath and admire in the Jose Mourinho years, they have frequently looked shaky, but thanks to major crises at Old Trafford and Anfield they have managed to keep their head above water.

Cue: Captain Fantastic. JT: the lionhearted leader of all England, just when we thought we were clear one of massive sex scandal in sport John Terry's transgressions have dragged us right back into the murky woods of sportspeople with more money than morality.

We are always told by jolly old pundits that; 'he'd play on with a broken leg if he could.' But perhaps his fans would rather he took some time out of the limelight the way his counterpart in golf had.

Terry headed a superb late winner against Burnley on Saturday. But he is currently an incendiary target for opposition fans, and his presence has both hindered Chelsea and aided their hosts (Burnley and Hull) to overcome their deficit in ability and gain parity with a team, supposed to be one of Europe's strongest.

On Sunday the blues will be in the friendlier surrounds of Stamford Bridge, but they will be pitted against another wounded animal. Arsenal, having been beaten by Stoke, held by Aston Villa and humiliated by Manchester United will be targeting this game all week, perhaps longer given the outcome of their previous meeting.

The Gunners will emerge at the bridge with renewed focus and motivation, knowing that anything but a win would virtually rule them out of the title race. United on the other hand will play at home to Portsmouth, knowing that a convincing win against a team on the verge of extinction would leave Carlo Ancelotti needing all three points in the London derby to restore his team to the league's summit.

Terry has again let himself slip when everything is on the line, but unlike the incident in Moscow, nobody will have sympathy for his tears this time round.

At this time of year with the sun slowly returning to the evening sky, Ferguson is not usually of a mind to show mercy and will be intent on turning the screw, and devouring all available points to pull clear as the bell rings to signal the last lap.