ERIC CANTONA gave Manchester United's title prospects the kiss of life last night almost a year to the day since he committed football suicide at Selhurst Park.
The fiery Frenchman even acted as peacemaker when Andy Cole lost his head over the 75th minute sending off of Nicky Butt.
Cantona grabbed Cole and held back the £7 million striker as he continued arguing with Barnsley referee Stephen Lodge despite being booked in the rumpus over Butt's dismissal for a second yellow card offence.
United's frustration was understandable. West Ham hard man Julian Dicks sparked off the incident, sending Cole spinning in the air with a late challenge. When Lodge failed to punish Dicks, Butt came charging in seeking retribution.
Soon afterwards manager Alex Ferguson wisely substituted the seething Cole to save the man who has scored five goals in his previous seven games from joining Butt for an early bath.
By comparison with Cole, Cantona remained cool, calm and collected as United claimed only their second Upton Park win in 22 visits to narrow the gap on leaders Newcastle to nine points, although they have played an extra game.
Cantona was the key figure on a night when United's title chances might have disappeared down the plug hole once more on a ground where they perished twice in three years.
The Frenchman's sixth group of the season after eight minutes divided the sides but brave West Ham had the opportunities to deliver the Red Devils another knockout blow.
Tony Cottee rammed a third minute shot against the United crossbar and saw a later effort rebound to safety off Peter Schmeichel's shin.
Danny Williamson had a goal bound drive blocked by Butt, and Denis Irwin somehow stuck out a foot to clear Ian Bishop's side foot shot off the goal line.
Schmeichel rescued United again with a magnificent diving save from Iain Dowie as the Hammers, with five defeats in their previous six league games, pressed for an equaliser against United's 10 men.
Cantona had broken their hearts, though. Ryan Giggs was the architect with a magnificent twist and turn to wrong foot Dicks before setting off towards the West Ham penalty area.
He exchanged passes with Andy Cole, then drilled the ball low across the goal mouth where Sharpe missed it but Cantona turned it back in from a tight angle.
The Frenchman was involved in controversy himself when he appeared to handle a corner under pressure in his own area during the early stages and was then penalised himself harshly for handball as he set up Sharpe to head in.
United's 1-0 defeat to a Kenny Brown goal at Upton Park in April 1992 virtually handed the championship to Leeds, and their failure to win on the same ground in the final match of last season allowed Blackburn to claim the title by a point.
United must have feared the worst again when Butt went off. But the tireless Roy Keane and the steady heads of Bruce and Irwin saw them through safely to a crucial victory.
