On Sunday evening it seemed to be in the bag for United, who had opened up an eight-point lead with six games remaining over a Manchester City side apparently imploding under Roberto Mancini.

But by Thursday morning there had been a significant shift in fortunes thanks to Wigan's shock win over United at the DW Stadium as the Blues were recording a comfortable victory over West Brom.

As City are in action first this weekend, United's lead could be down to just two points by kick-off of Sunday's encounter with Aston Villa.

And Ferguson concedes his team still has a fight to win.

"The race is back on isn't it?" he said. "They [City] have a chance don't they? They haven't been playing well, they've said that, but a 4-0 win is a good result at this time of the season."

Immediately after that game, City manager Mancini ruled out overhauling United and then continued the reverse psychology ahead of his side's encounter with Norwich by disparaging his own side compared with Ferguson's.

United are not buying it though, with Ferguson electing to stay out of the mind games.

"That doesn't matter to us," he said. "We've all got opportunities to talk about mind games. He [Mancini] has maybe picked the wrong time to say it."

Ferguson faces one of his former players this weekend in old Aberdeen stalwart Alex McLeish.

A series of depressing Villa performances have not done much to soothe relations between McLeish and the club's fans, who were not impressed by the choice of an old Birmingham manager as their new boss last summer.

Along with Blackburn's Steve Kean, McLeish has suffered the most intense in-house abuse in the top flight this term.

Yet it seems everyone is open to scrutiny, including Ferguson, whose decision to rest Paul Scholes for Wednesday night's shock defeat at Wigan was condemned by many supporters on United's own TV channel.

Asked whether the abuse McLeish has received could happen anywhere, Ferguson said: "I think so, yes. It is a change in society.

"I spoke some time ago about the picture of the melee on the pitch between United and Leeds and in the background the fans were completely passive. You wouldn't get that today.

"We did the right thing resting Paul on Wednesday. It may not have looked like that to the fans, but three games in seven days would have been a big ask.

"In games at Old Trafford, well any game really, he controls the tempo of our game and the rhythm of our game.

"We thought with Ryan Giggs' experience in the middle of the pitch that resting Scholesy would have been all right, but as it transpired that didn't show."

The annoyance at one selection by a manager who is trying to win his 13th Premier League title is nothing compared to the anger McLeish's presence has provoked amongst some sections of Villa's support.

During a recent game at Wigan they openly abused the Scot, who, like Kean, has kept his counsel in a dignified manner.

And Ferguson insists if Villa show a bit of patience, they will be rewarded.

"I do have sympathy for Alex," Ferguson added. "I have known him since he was a little kid. When I brought him into the team at Aberdeen he was always a very receptive, intelligent young man.

"He was a great player, has had a good career as a manager and will do a good job at Villa given time, trust and confidence. We all need a pat on the back at times and Alex has done a remarkable job."

Ferguson certainly believes McLeish has been the victim of owner Randy Lerner's demand to reduce the wage bill that built up under Martin O'Neill, coupled with injuries to key men Richard Dunne and Darren Bent.

"There was an imbalance in terms of what is needed in the Premier League," he said.

"You only need a couple of injuries and it is a massive blow. And in Bent you are taking away a goalscorer who gets between 18 and 20 a season. That is a big loss."