Mourinho won't collapse like Kev

The narrow 1-0 win at Ewood Park last night - and a record-breaking eighth consecutive Premiership clean sheet for Peter Cech - means Chelsea are on 64 points with just 13 games remaining.

With 13 games left in 1995-96 United trailed Kevin Keegan's Newcastle by nine points and, just as today, most commentators assumed the race was over.

Keegan's multi-talented team - built around players like Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola and Tino Asprilla - led the race from August until early March when they lost 1-0 to United at St James' Park, a defeat that cost them their 100 per cent home record.

After an inconsistent first half to the season, United were just finding their stride at the time. In their last 15 matches they dropped just five of the 45 points available.

Newcastle simply couldn't live with that kind of form. After a 1-0 win at Leeds, with Newcastle and United locked together at the top of the table, the emotional Keegan criticised Ferguson on television for his blatant gamesmanship in stirring up Leeds.

"You don't say what he said, you just don't say that in football," said a bitter Keegan. "United haven't won it yet. I'd love it if we beat them now, love it." Most neutrals were cheeringfor Newcastle that season, but it wasn't to be. Maximum points from the final three games gave Ferguson his third Premiership.

There are echoes of that remarkable recovery in United's gathering assault on this season's title. The 4-2 win at Highbury not only ended Arsenal's hopes of retaining their crown but also sent a clear message of intent to Mourinho.

Unbeaten in the Premiership for three months, United have dropped just two points in their last eight matches - against Tottenham at Old Trafford. They were, of course, lucky to escape defeat that night.

But Chelsea can afford to lose at Old Trafford in April and still canter home comfortably. In fact, if they maintain their current momentum - eight straight Premiership wins - it could all be over before they travel to Old Trafford.

Their next seven opponents are Manchester City, Everton, WBA, Norwich, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Birmingham City - a clutch of clubs that could provide rich pickings for Chelsea.

What may complicate the climax to the Premiership season, though, is the appetite all of Europe's top coaches now share for the Champions-League. Ferguson and Mourinho-have both won it and it is no secret that Ferguson craves a second triumph before he retires. The resumption of the Champions League later this month will inevitably require a fresh alignment of priorities because both clubs face formidable opponents at the first knock-out stage - Chelsea meet Barcelona and United take on AC Milan.

Chelsea's schedule is further cluttered by the Carling Cup final and the fifth round of the FA Cup . . . but with Mourinho you suspect that will just focus him even more.