SIR ALEX FERGUSON admitted he thought the Premiership title was slipping away before boy-wonder Wayne Rooney rescued United with his superb late winner at Old Trafford.

Hours after Arsenal's defence of the championship ended at St Mary's, the south coast's other top-flight club looked like handing the trophy to Chelsea.

Pompey were clinging desperately to a point until Rooney charged onto Ruud van Nistelrooy's through-ball, skipped past Dejan Stefanovic with his first touch then left keeper Kostas Chalkias on his backside as he delayed his shot until the last possible moment.

"It was running away from us and the sigh of relief at the goal was probably mine," admitted Ferguson.

"We should have put the game out of sight in the first half, so losing the goal right after half-time was a real kick in the teeth for us.

"But we have had many results like that over the years. We have seen it time and time again. It just emphasises the determination and perseverance of the team.

"Wayne was by far our best player. He is a winner and was truly magnificent."

Rooney had already put United in front with his 14th goal of the campaign, sweeping home Gary Neville's cross after just seven minutes.

But after the hosts failed to build on their lead, Gary O'Neil levelled 90 seconds after the re-start, firing home a first-time volley after Wes Brown had kneed the ball into his path on the edge of the area.

Rooney's dramatic late intervention, though, reduced Chelsea's lead to six points.

The gap will be cut by half should the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace next weekend in a match which kicks-off two hours before Chelsea re-enter the fray at Norwich.

"We have to keep winning and you never know what can happen then," said Ferguson, who was joined in his observations by Portsmouth boss Joe Jordan who is convinced his former club can complete another memorable title win.

"They have done it before and it wasn't a one-off," said the Pompey coach.

"They have now collected 14 wins and three draws from their last 17 games and don't look like slipping up.

"There is still a big gap there but what has been said is true, Manchester United have been there and done it, Chelsea might have players who have done it in other leagues, but they haven't done it here.

"That doesn't mean they won't but I expect the gap to get smaller than it is now."

Jordan absolved Chalkias from any blame over Rooney's winner. As a former Manchester United striker himself, Jordan knows a touch of genius when he sees it.

"When Wayne Rooney collected the pass, he probably had three decisions to make and the choices have ended up with him rolling the ball into our net. You can't blame the goalkeeper. He has been out-thought and out-manoeuvred.

"It is disappointing because I thought we were going to get a point, but United have players capable of doing things like that to you."

Ferguson's delight at the victory was increased after he learned x-rays had revealed there was no serious damage to Gary Neville's ankle after a hefty first-half challenge with Matthew Taylor.

And Rio Ferdinand should have benefited from being allowed to rest his sore hamstrings.

Unlike Ferdinand, Roy Carroll was not a willing spectator in the stands.

Carroll's manager has twice publicly claimed the Ulsterman was not to blame for Hernan Crespo's late winner which has left United needing to beat Milan away to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Now though, Ferguson admits Carroll blundered and Tim Howard has now been given the opportunity to reclaim his first team spot, raising the real possibility that Carroll, out of contract in the summer, has played his last senior match for United.

"Roy Carroll made a big mistake on Wednesday," said Ferguson. "I don't think he was totally responsible but maybe he is better out of it so I can give Tim Howard his go.

"We have the important game in Milan looming in 10 days' time and I want to see how Tim responds to the challenge."