Top 10 title blow-ups - SkySports

The head-to-head battle between Manchester United and Manchester City for Premier League glory this season has been full of drama and even with just two games remaining there is no ruling out another twist in the tale.

Both sides have seen substantial leads at the top of the table cut to nothing by their neighbours, with United having collapsed most recently to set up an excruciatingly tight finish to the campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men boasted an eight-point lead over the blue side of Manchester just weeks ago but City's 1-0 victory at Etihad Stadium on Monday night means goal difference is now all that separates the rivals.

The Red Devils are by no means the first side in history to have let their title campaign slip in the dying stages. Here, Sky Sports takes a look at the biggest chokes to have graced the top-flight.

Half a century ago, Burnley were one of England's top teams and had celebrated title success in 1959-60, edging out Wolves and Tottenham for the crown. They came back for another go two seasons later and looked on course for more glory, sitting top of the table with a four-point lead and a game in hand over Ipswich Town at the beginning of March. However, the wheels proceeded to fall off the Clarets' campaign in spectacular fashion as the Lancashire side won just two of their last 13 games. First Division first-timers Ipswich claimed the title by three points and Burnley have failed to lift the trophy since.

Title hopefuls Arsenal were shaken by a wobble in February 1971 when a 2-0 defeat at Derby County marked their third successive loss on the road and allowed Leeds to open up a seven-point gap at the top. The Yorkshire club looked finally set for some silverware after finishing empty-handed on three fronts the previous season, but they buckled under the pressure just as the Gunners found form, reeling off nine straight league wins. After taking over in the top spot, Bertie Mee's side entered their final match - against local rivals Tottenham - needing a goalless draw to clinch the title but went one better, overthrowing Spurs 1-0 to beat Leeds to the punch.

At the end of March 1972, Manchester City were edging a four-horse race for the trophy that also consisted of Leeds United, Liverpool and outsiders Derby County. Cruising on the back of four straight wins, the Blues were on course to repeat their title-winning antics from four years earlier. However, City stumbled into an untimely bad patch, collecting just seven points from seven games in a slump that proved extremely costly. They managed to beat Derby 2-0 in their final game of the season but by then it was too little too late and Brian Clough's men took advantage of their game in hand to claim victory at home to Liverpool and clinch a first ever league championship.

Ipswich looked to have the upper hand in a two-horse title race with Aston Villa but flung their chances away in the final weeks, losing seven of their last 10 games to trail home four points behind the Midlanders. It seems the downfall of Bobby Robson's side came from taking on too much; Town were competing for silverware on three fronts that season. FA Cup glory also evaded them after reaching the semi-finals, but they could take some comfort from their UEFA Cup success after beating AZ Alkmaar in the final.

In one of the most dramatic title races in top-flight history, Liverpool managed to throw away the trophy in the final minute of the last game of the season against Arsenal. It had initially looked like the Gunners would be the ones to see their title bid implode after the Merseysiders slashed their 15-point lead at the top to nothing. Having pulled level with the Londoners, Liverpool had the upper hand heading into the final encounter of the campaign at Anfield, with Arsenal needing to win the clash by at least two goals to the lift the trophy. The visitors were 1-0 up as the game entered stoppage time and it looked like Liverpool had it in the bag until Michael Thomas struck in the final minute to send the title the other way.

On Boxing Day 1991 Manchester United were sitting pretty at the helm of the top-flight and primed to lift their first league title in 25 years. But rivals Leeds United threw a spanner in the works, emerging as the stronger side in what had been a two-horse race for most of the campaign. The Red Devils suffered a slump in form at the wrong time, securing just three successes in their last 12 games, while the Whites kept notching up the wins. United's campaign eventually imploded in their penultimate game of the season when, having lost back-to-back games against Nottingham Forest and relegated West Ham, they were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield, while Leeds triumphed 3-2 over Sheffield United to secure the crown.

In January 1996, Manchester United lost 4-1 at Tottenham before being held to a goalless draw against Aston Villa, allowing Newcastle United to establish a whopping 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Kevin Keegan's men were firmly on course for the title and everyone presumed the race for the trophy was over. Three months later, however, the table told a different story. The Magpies had stumbled through an indifferent run of results, while the Red Devils had mounted a well-timed resurgence to climb back into contention. Cue an unexpectedly tight run-in, complete with Keegan's infamous 'I will love it if we beat them' rant, and United snatching the title from under the Magpies' noses in arguably the most memorable collapse.

It was United's turn to suffer another blow-up in 1998 when they threw it all away to Arsenal. The Red Devils were 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League on March 1st and appeared all set for a fifth title victory in six seasons, with one bookmaker even paying out early on the punters who had backed them to lift the trophy. However the Gunners, with three games in hand, patiently chipped away at United's lead, with a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford in mid-March proving decisive. The victory triggered a storming run of eight successive wins and the North Londoners ultimately wrapped up the title with two games to spare with a 4-0 thumping of Everton.

Manchester United were involved again in 2003 when Sir Alex Ferguson's men pegged back Arsenal in a classic race for the title. The Gunners had led by eight points in March but saw that advantage trimmed back by their rivals in the final weeks of the season. United clinched a crucial point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with the North Londoners in April before the Gunners collapsed later that month in a draw with Bolton before losing to Leeds in early May. Those results allowed the Red Devils to sneak in at the top and Arsene Wenger's men had to make do with FA Cup success.

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool gave up what had appeared a serious title bid in 2009 when they succumbed to Manchester United at the top. The Merseysiders had sat eight points clear of their fierce rivals in January but by the time they visited Old Trafford on March 14th they had slipped seven behind. Their slide came on the back of some ferocious mind games between Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson, culminating in an astonishing five-minute attack on the United boss by the Spaniard, insinuating he organised the Premier League fixture list and that the Red Devils profited from generous refereeing decisions. Ferguson's men ended up winning the title by four points, with the Reds coming in second, and many pointed to Benitez's infamous rant as the moment when their season began to spiral.

With Man City threatening to capitalise on United's collapse, Sky Sports looks at 10 title blow-ups.

Sky Sports picks out ten players who have been on the books of both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Sky Sports picks 10 of the best two-horse title races as the Manchester clubs battle for dominance.

Sky Sports picks 10 of the most memorable goal-line controversies following Clint Hill's disallowed strike.

Sky Sports counts down 10 of the briefest managerial stints following Andre Villas-Boas' sacking.

Sky Sports counts down ten memorable meetings between Tottenham and Manchester United.

Sky Sports picks out ten players to keep an eye on when the UEFA Champions League returns next week.

Sky Sports looks at ten Football League talents attracting interest from the top-flight this month.

Skysports.com has a look at some of the best goals ever to have graced a Manchester derby.

Following Dimitar Berbatov's stint at centre-half, we take a look at a few other versatile performers.

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Luka Modric is crowded by team-mates after scoring a stunning opening goal

Nigel Reo-Coker celebrates his equaliser with manager Owen Coyle

Emmanuel Adebayor: His double helped Tottenham thrash Bolton at the Reebok

Goal of the match: Fabulous effort from Luka Modric as he chested down the corner before unleashing a 30 yard screamer.

Miss of the match: Dedryck Boyata blazed over from close-range.

Save of the match: Adam Bogdan's double save, firstly from Bale's long range effort, then from Rafael van der Vaart's rebound.

Move of the match: Modric's delightful ball towards Aaron Lennon on the right, who squared for Emmanuel Adebayor to finish.

Moment of the match: Spurs scoring twice in as many minutes against the run of play, effectively ending the match.

Talking point: Can Tottenham now hold off Newcastle to end the season in fourth?

An Emmanuel Adebayor double inspired Tottenham to a 4-1 victory against Bolton to maintain their grip on fourth spot in the Premier League and push the Trotters closer to the drop.

Spurs made their early dominance count at the Reebok Stadium when Luka Modric broke the deadlock eight minutes before half-time.

The Croatian midfielder collected a short corner before lashing a stunning right-foot dipper into the top corner past the helpless Adam Bogdan.

On an emotional night with Fabrice Muamba returning to the ground, Bolton restored parity six minutes after the break as David Ngog's clever backheel was neatly dispatched by Nigel Reo-Coker.

However, the visitors were soon back in front on the hour mark as Gareth Bale's low cross was finished off from close-range by Rafael Van der Vaart for his 11th goal of the season.

Adebayor scored the first of his two goals on the night two minutes later with a tap-in from Aaron Lennon's right-wing cross and then again after 69 minutes, latching onto Bale's through ball before rounding Bogdan and slotting the ball home as Spurs secured their first away win of 2012.

The win also put the North Londoners to within a point of third-placed neighbours Arsenal.

Meanwhile, defeat for Wanderers was their 11th of the campaign and they sit in the relegation zone on goal difference from QPR on 34 points with just two games of the season remaining.

It was an emotional night for the hosts with Muamba returning to the ground for the first time since suffering a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup tie between the same two teams in March.

The Trotters midfielder accepted a standing ovation from all sides of the ground as he was introduced on the pitch before kick-off but attention then shifted to Bolton's battle against the drop.

The hosts' failure to make the most of a dominant spell after Reo-Coker's equaliser proved costly as they slipped to a defeat that leaves them in the bottom three.

They showed determination and composure early on in what was their game in hand but it was Spurs who had the first serious opportunities when Bogdan was forced into a double save.

Bogdan, outstanding in the rearranged cup game against Spurs, parried a long-range drive from Gareth Bale and then reacted quickly to deny Van der Vaart.

Bale made a cutting charge into the area and pulled the ball back from the byline but there was no-one on hand to turn in.

Bolton pieced together a nice move to release Dedryck Boyata in the box but the right-back could only pick out Brad Friedel while David Ngog was unmarked in front of goal.

Bolton made another swift counter-attack as Martin Petrov broke clear down the left and whipped in a low cross which just evaded Kevin Davies.

Chris Eagles picked up possession and found Ngog but the Frenchman's shot was smothered by Friedel.

Spurs took the lead with Modric's spectacular strike after 37 minutes.

The visitors won a corner after Bogdan saved from Van der Vaart and the ball was put behind despite suspicion of handball from Sandro.

Bolton fans were incensed but Van der Vaart was allowed to chip to Modric outside the area and the Croatian chested down before blasting a swerving shot into the top corner.

Bolton should have been level before the break.

Eagles first shot wide with a long-range effort before Boyata put a golden opportunity over the bar from a stoppage-time corner.

Bolton had a scare early in the second half as David Wheater gifted possession to Van der Vaart but Tim Ream snuffed out the counter-attack.

The Trotters pulled themselves back level with a well-worked equaliser in the 51st minute.

Kevin Davies headed on Boyata's throw-in to Ngog and his backheel rolled perfectly for Reo-Coker, who fired a low shot past Friedel.

The goal lifted the crowd and Bolton upped the tempo.

Petrov found himself in a good position but scuffed a shot wide and three corners in quick succession caused some anxiety in the Spurs box.

Eagles was the next to take aim after another throw was hurled into the area but his effort went narrowly over.

Bolton paid for their failure to make the most of that spell as Spurs launched two quick counter-raids to score twice in as many minutes.

Bale first stretched the defence and Van der Vaart finished brilliantly as the Welshman slid an inviting ball into his path.

Barely seconds later, Lennon got behind the defence as he raced on to a long ball from Modric and squared for Adebayor to tap home.

Bolton briefly rallied but the game was put beyond their reach as Bale sent Adebayor clear and the on-loan Manchester City striker casually rounded Bogdan to score.

Tensions were evident as Bolton substitute Josh Vela crudely brought down Aaron Lennon, sparking a row on the touchlines between Spurs assistant boss Joe Jordan and Bolton manager Owen Coyle.

Redknapp appeared to step in as peacemaker and Vela was booked.

Bolton endured more frustration as Petrov crossed and both Kevin Davies and Eagles failed to trouble Friedel.

Adebayor tried his luck from distance in search of a hat-trick but chipped over.

Spurs played out time to record their first win at the Reebok Stadium and the travelling fans chanted their support of Redknapp.

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