Squeaky Bum Time Is Upon Us...

"There are thirteen games left, it's one game less and another goal better off than our rivals."

Sir Alex Ferguson's words following the final whistle on Wednesday night. They were words of a man intent on taking each game as it comes, words of a man intent on getting Manchester United back where they belong and words of a man who knows there is a long way to go in this title race.

On Sunday, Manchester United travel to White Hart Lane in one of the games that will shape our season. With thirteen games to go and a six point gap at the summit of the Premier League every game from now until the title is won is absolutely vital and with away trips to Anfield, Fratton Park, Stamford Bridge and The City of Manchester Stadium still to come after the battle at White Hart Lane United must take every game as it comes and play every game as if it decides the title race.

Whilst Manchester United were dishing out defeat in cruise control to a relegation bound Watford side, Tottenham were at the Emirates Stadium playing their part in what turned out to be a scintillating Carling Cup semi-final which ended in a 3 - 1 extra time defeat to a rampant Arsenal side.

Last season, United beat Spurs 2 - 1 at White Hart Lane at the rear end of the season at a time when victory would keep up an unlikely title charge after seemingly pegging Chelsea back. The victory was thanks to a first half Wayne Rooney brace which kept the Red Devils within eight points of Chelsea. As we know, Manchester United went on to finish second and thoughts of snatching the title were distinguished following a horror show at the Bridge which was overshadowed by Wayne Rooney's infamous metatarsal injury.

What a difference a season makes, Manchester United are at the summit of the league and lead Chelsea by six points but victory at White Hart Lane is as important, if not more so, than last season and the form of Wayne Rooney amongst others is as vital in the title race from now on.

Wayne Rooney's form at the beginning of the season was questioned despite a goal in the Manchester derby, braces vs. Fulham & Sheffield United and a hat trick vs. Bolton. Rooney's touch, goal scoring and form had deserted him to an extent Sir Alex offered him a weeks rest something which was refused by Rooney. Rooney rejected the break and decided to do more training, extended his usual training routine by an hour a day of private training on his touch, his shooting and his fitness.

Ferguson had said that Rooney needed to score single goals in consecutive matches rather than spurts of goalscoring that had seen him score eight goals in four fixtures of the season but none in the rest up to the Arsenal fixture at the Emirates Stadium, a place where Rooney's luck and form seemed to turn.

At The Emirates Stadium, despite United's defeat, Rooney scored the opening goal with a clever diving header a goal which relieved the pressure off the Croxteth-born striker and a goal which could be a turning point in where the title ends up in May.

Following his goal at the Emirates he scored a double versus Portsmouth in the FA Cup which included a fabolous Cantona-esque strike and then scored a delightful chip in the rout of Watford. Wayne Rooney has found his form and United will need him on top of his game in the coming months. With Champions League football restarting, the FA Cup coming up again as well as the title run in (which includes those difficult aforementioned away trips) Rooney's form could be vital to how Manchester United fare when the trophies are handed out at the end of the season.

Manchester United's season starts on Sunday and after gaining such a commanding position in the title race it would be suicide to throw it away now but with those away trips coming up anything is possible in football and anything but the absolute best from the men in Red could spell catastrophy in the race for their ninth Premiership title.

One thing is for sure Ferguson will not let his boys become complacent and that is vital, one slip up and the pressure is on given Ferguson's and his sides experience and youth I don't see the slip up coming added to the form of Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes and co. that spells bad news for the rest of the Premiership.

Squeaky bum time though is well and truly upon us!