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Irwin keeps his cool as Old Trafford finds its voice again

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THE English Premier League title race will go down to the wire after Manchester United did what they had to do, beat Southampton 2-1, to cut Blackburn Rovers' lead at the top back to two points.

But it was a desperately close-run thing.

It took a penalty nine minutes from time, after Ken Monkou pulled back Andy Cole, to end Southampton's determined resistance in a packed, almost hysterical Old Trafford. Denis Irwin, the coolest man in the stadium, was unruffled by both the pressures of the moment and Southampton's protests as he drove the kick past David Beasant.

Southampton were unhappy at the time but Blackburn need have no suspicion that the referee had been swayed by the Old Trafford crowd. 'It was definitely a penalty and it was a very good decision by the referee,' said Alan Ball, the Southampton manager.

That goal leaves United needing to win at West Ham on Sunday and hoping that Blackburn can only draw at Anfield. The odds remain against them, particularly given West Ham's 3-0 hammering of a disinterested Liverpool yesterday.

But Ferguson insisted: 'It is beyond thinking for anyone to suggest that Liverpool wouldn't try.' The other side of the West Ham result is that it cleared the Hammers from the threat of relegation which could work in United's favour when they visit Upton Park.

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