Michael Carrick set up a probable Manchester United title party at Old Trafford on Saturday with an 86th-minute winner to sink Wigan Athletic.
Carrick sealed another comeback win when he drove home John O'Shea's pass from the edge of the box, leaving United a point away from completing a hat-trick of Barclays Premier League triumphs.
Only once during Sir Alex Ferguson's 10 previous successes have United done it in front of their own fans. Now all they must do is avoid defeat against Arsenal to render a last-day trip to Hull City, for the Red Devils at least, meaningless.
If Carrick was the match-winner, Carlos Tevez was again the hero, producing an impudent back-heel minutes after his introduction as a substitute to peg the Latics back.
Steve Bruce's men gave their all after taking a deserved first-half lead through Hugo Rodallega. But the Wigan manager knows more than most, Manchester United are not beaten that easily.
Any pretensions United had of being in for an easy evening were blasted out of the window after only two minutes.
The Red Devils' record against Wigan may have read eight wins from eight attempts, to an overall score of 23-3, and the Latics might still have been looking for their first league win against a top-four team, but Bruce was in no mood to let his old club saunter to their 18th league title.
swift turn
Antonio Valencia certainly showed a pretty swift turn of pace to charge clear of Nemanja Vidic once he had nipped in front of O'Shea.
He did not have the finish to match, though, and, with Edwin van der Sar advancing, failed to find the target.
Set up by Dimitar Berbatov's deft chip, Wayne Rooney, selected ahead of Tevez, rose well enough but got his header all wrong despite being totally unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box.
Carrick went close shortly afterwards and it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors opened their account and strolled to their usual victory.
Wigan, though, have proved at various stages of this campaign they have some pretty decent players.
Rodallega is one, the Colombian who arrived in the north west as a virtual unknown but has a sharp eye for goal to go with his strength.
And, after outmuscling Vidic, who was so convinced he should have had a free-kick he was eventually told by referee Rob Styles he would be sent off unless he let it go, he eventually located the loose ball and drilled it low past Van der Sar on 28 minutes.
left out
Rodallega had other opportunities, too, but then again so did United, Rooney scooping one shot over after an intricate series of passes involving Paul Scholes, Berbatov and Ronaldo.
It was one of those nights for the world footballer of the year. Too much arm-waving, not enough end product, two of his trademark free-kicks belted into the Wigan wall.
At the start of the second half Ronaldo did manage to create a chance for himself, only to drag a shot wide.
With the momentum continuing to favour Wigan, Ferguson introduced Tevez on 58 minutes. And, just as on Sunday, his timing was perfect, diverting Carrick's low shot into the net with a deliberate flick of his heel three minutes later.
Mind you, Ferguson was not too impressed 10 minutes from time when Tevez rolled a neat pass to Ronaldo, who promptly blazed over as glory beckoned.
Yet how many times do United score important goals late on? Carrick ensured all three points four minutes from time.
