Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti got his first experience of "squeaky bum time" when his side were defeated at White Hart Lane and the Barclays Premier League title race was reignited.
At 2.30pm Chelsea looked like they would be three points ahead of Manchester United when they kicked off against Tottenham, but then came Paul Scholes' last-gasp winner against City to close the gap and a defeat for Ancelotti's men.
It means United could be back at the summit before Chelsea face Stoke in a match where they will be without skipper John Terry following his red card against Harry Redknapp's side.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who famously called this period of the season "squeaky bum time", has the momentum but Ancelotti said: "We are top of the list with only three games left so every team wants to be in our place.
"We have two at home and one difficult game away. We can be the best again. A one-point lead is not bad at this stage of the season.
"To be sure we have to win all three games. Now the most important is against Stoke."
It was a wretched evening for Terry against Spurs, starting with a handball that led to a penalty and Jermain Defoe smashing home despite being stripped of spot-kick duties earlier in the season.
Gareth Bale doubled the lead, then Terry was involved in a verbal spat with a fan next to the tunnel as he walked towards the dressing room. The fan was ejected and banned for Spurs' next home game.
Terry will also miss Chelsea's next clash through suspension as he was dismissed in the second half for two bookings, although he said "twice, I won the ball" to his bench as he headed off.
Being without Terry as Stoke launch their long throw-ins into Chelsea's penalty area next weekend may increase the pressure on Ancelotti's defence.
The Italian, however, said: "It is normal to have pressure at the end of a Premier League season. We are at the top of the table and we have less pressure than the other teams.
"I am always confident. I am less confident than the day before the match but we are still in the best position."
The good news for Ancelotti was having Ashley Cole back on the bench following a serious ankle injury, while Michael Essien could also play some part in the run-in.
"Ashley Cole, yes, he is ready," Ancelotti said. "We hope Essien will be back before the end of the season.
"It's very exciting, I always said it will be decided in the last game, until then it will be a fight."
Spurs got themselves ahead of Manchester City and back in the Champions League places following the win.
Redknapp had a makeshift team due to injuries but has been impressed with how his players have responded to their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Portsmouth last week.
He had Wilson Palacios suspended for the midweek win against Arsenal and the visit of Chelsea but Luka Modric moved inside from the flank and was singled out for praise.
"Modric could play in any team in the world, he's a top, top player," Redknapp said. "People said the little guy couldn't play in the middle, he's played against two of the top teams in the country and they played three in central midfield. He's been top-drawer."
Redknapp believes there is more to come from his team.
He added: "We're an improving team and I think we'll get better. We've got good young players and some to come back from injury.
"As for the title race, it's going to be close. And that's the great thing about the game - you get days like this. That's what makes it so exciting and there is so much more to look forward to.
"The championship is wide open again. If United hadn't have got that last-minute goal and Chelsea had beaten us then it would have been all over. Now there is still a lot to look forward to.
"Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United, I would have been happy with five points from those games and we have already got six from two."