How the premiership was won by Manchester United

1 Dinner with Ronaldo  Early July 2006

Even before the season had started, Alex Ferguson was hard at work. Cristiano Ronaldo had stated he wanted to leave the club and, in the post-World Cup hysteria, the Sun had superimposed his face on a dartboard. Ferguson secretly flew to Portugal to take Ronaldo out for dinner and persuade him to change his mind - man-management at its very best.

2 Manchester Utd 5 Fulham 1 August 20th

The supporters had been chanting Ruud van Nistelrooy's name in pre-season matches, protesting against his sale to Real Madrid. Chelsea had brought in five major signings and the United fans' mood, before the first game of the season, was largely of resignation. All that changed as United scored four goals inside the opening 20 minutes.

3 Bolton 0 Manchester Utd 4 October 28th

"No other team in the country could come to Bolton and get a result like that," Ferguson says of this mauling. The focus before the match had been on Wayne Rooney's erratic form but Ferguson defended his player, telling reporters: "You know deep down and every defender in the country knows deep down that the boy will be right." So it proved as the England striker scored a hat-trick.

4 Henrik Larsson's signing December 1st

Larsson's record of three goals in 10 starts, five in the Premiership, was not earth-shattering but United were short of strikers at the time and the former Swedish international, right, made a handsome contribution, even if he is not eligible for a championship winner's medal.

5 Tottenham 0 Manchester Utd 4 February 4th 2007

Chelsea have had a wretched January and Ferguson's team emphasise their own championship quality with their biggest ever win at White Hart Lane.

6 A last-minute goal at Fulham February 24th

The game is drifting towards a 1-1 draw and United look like they are going to be indebted to Edwin van der Sar's goalkeeping for saving a point when Ronaldo picks up the ball in the final attack of the game, sets off on one of those penetrative surges and lashes in a winner.

7 John O'Shea scores in front of Kop March 3rd

United are down to 10 men against Liverpool because Paul Scholes has been sent off. They are playing out time, happy with a 0-0 draw. Then they win a free-kick and the ball falls to John O'Shea (below), who keeps his head to put United 12 points clear of Chelsea.

"I told him afterwards that by scoring a last-minute winner in front of the Kop he had lived out my dream," Gary Neville, United's captain and celebrated Scouse-baiter, recalls.

8 Manchester Utd 4 Blackburn 1 March 31st

Matt Derbyshire has scored for Blackburn and the crowd are starting to panic. But Scholes instigates a brilliant second-half comeback.

9 Iain Turner offers a helping hand April 28th

United are losing 2-0 with half an hour to play when Everton's rookie goalkeeper drops the ball for O'Shea to equalise and turn the game upside down. Ferguson is cavorting on the pitch after the comeback is completed by the tragicomedy of Phil Neville's own-goal and further strikes from Rooney and Chris Eagles.

10 Darius Vassell's penalty May 5th

Ten minutes to go in the Manchester derby, United are winning 1-0 and Vassell has the chance to equalise from the penalty spot. His shot is straight down the middle and van der Sar saves with his feet. Mission accomplished.