Although there was no comeback involved at Ewood Park on Monday, United needed three superb saves from David de Gea, a well-timed Rio Ferdinand block and two goals in the final 10 minutes to claim victory at Blackburn.

The result extended United's lead over Manchester City to five points and continued a brilliant recent run that has brought them 31 points from a possible 33.

Even the two they dropped were cause for celebration given the Red Devils had been three goals down at Chelsea before hauling themselves back from the brink.

That was followed by Ryan Giggs' injury-time winner at Norwich on his 900th appearance that means even though this season is set to be written up as the one where City imploded, United have relied on their old instincts to pull them through.

"Over the years we have had these moments," said Ferguson.

"Look back to 1993 and two goals in injury-time against Sheffield Wednesday.

"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 Norwich or Monday night. With nine minutes to go it was still 0-0. But they didn't give in."

It is a character trait that could sum up the entire season.

After all, there have been times when United have been flattened so badly, it appeared impossible to get back up.

Beaten 6-1 at home by City in October, turfed out of the Champions League by Basel and having skipper Nemanja Vidic stretchered off with ruptured cruciate ligaments on the same night.

Losing in successive games to Blackburn and Newcastle over the new year.

"You have to grind it out," he said.

"You have to keep going and hope the team in front of you make mistakes or lose points.

"You drop points in this league. It is a fact. We all drop points.

"It is about when you drop them and, on the run-in, not to drop as many as your immediate opponents, which we haven't done."

It is hard to imagine United dropping more points than City this weekend as they entertain relegation-threatened QPR on Sunday in a game that ends half an hour before City take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Therefore, the potential exists for Ferguson's team to be eight points in front before the Blues do battle in one of their hardest fixtures of the season.

Not that Ferguson is getting carried away with himself.

"Arsenal is a difficult place to go to, even when they are not playing well," he said.

"But if we can win our game, what it means is that we are still five points clear even if City win and we will have one game fewer to play.

"At the moment, all you have to do is cut away the games."

It helps to have De Gea in such good form.

Blamed for a series of mistakes before he was dropped after a particularly sorry performance in that surprise home defeat to Blackburn, it is amazing how well the 21-year-old has bounced back.

His save at Stamford Bridge to deny Juan Mata an injury-time winner may not be bettered all season and now De Gea is showing why Ferguson spent £18million to prise him away from Atletico Madrid.

"I expected him to make a contribution the minute he arrived at the club," said Ferguson.

"Since he was a young kid, our homework on the lad has always been really positive.

"You can't deny the performance level and ability of someone who can get into the Atletico Madrid team at 18 and win the Europa League.

"That is why we went for him.

"Even Peter Schmeichel found it difficult coming into the English game, and he was 27.

"David made mistakes but we forgive that at 21."