Glory Days: How Man Utd won the 1995/96 title

If you ever need reminding of the importance of grinding out results, of the significance of hard-fought 1-0 victories – and the rewards for giving youth a chance – just cast your mind back to 1995/96. 

That season, United spotted Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle in the distance – 12 points clear at one point – and slowly but surely reeled the Magpies in. Between 22 January and 17 April, seven of the Reds’ 11 league wins came by a goal to nil, five of them courtesy of Eric Cantona winners.

Come the final day of the season, Alex Ferguson’s side needed only to better Newcastle’s result to claim back the title. A 3-0 win at Middlesbrough on 5 May 1996 did the trick, with goals scored by David May, Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs.