---
title: "On This Day: United title slip ups"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2016/04/11/on-this-day-united-title-slip-ups/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Features"
published: "2016-04-11T20:24:14Z"
modified: "2016-04-11T20:24:14Z"
---

# On This Day: United title slip ups

Manchester United have dropped vital points twice on this day in the last couple of seasons, with both occasions proving costly in each year’s title race.

Most recently in 2012, United travelled to the DW Stadium to face relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic in a match Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were widely expected to win.

However, United had what looked like an ‘off’ night, but it proved to be much more than that. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men could not break down this resilient Wigan side, who won thanks to Shaun Maloney’s effort from outside the area early in the second half.

![Gareth Copley/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2016/04/142692413.jpg)

And with Manchester City, who were pursuing their first Premier League title at the time, winning their fixture on the same night, United’s lead at the top was cut to just five points. With only five games left that shouldn’t have been a huge problem, but of course, Roberto Mancini’s men infamously cut the gap…

The Reds’ misery on this day does not only come down to that day, however. Just two years prior to the loss at Wigan, United were held to a goalless draw by Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia were amongst those to miss key chances for United, whilst their opponents stayed solid at the back, in part down to now United defender Phil Jones, but created little of their own at the other end of the field.

![Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2016/04/98390572.jpg)

United were without Wayne Rooney that day and he proved to be a key absentee as, despite winning their remaining four league matches after this game, Chelsea ultimately won the title on goal difference rather than Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

Starting in Rooney’s place that day, and for the first time that season in the League, was Federico Macheda, a man who had made very little impact on the first team since his explosion onto the scene just over a year ago.

That came after he scored a wonder goal against Aston Villa which earned a vital three points for the Reds, but Macheda was involved again the following week on April 11th in the 2008-09 campaign, this time against Sunderland.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2016/04/85913367.jpg)

Again in pursuit of the title, the Reds were fortunately in better form on this occasion. Macheda was on the scoresheet again in a 2-1 away victory after being introduced from the bench, although his goal was rather more fortuitous.

The Italian saw Michael Carrick’s effort deflect in off of him and into the net, earning the victory for United and restoring their one-point lead at the top of the Premier League over Liverpool.

That lead eventually became even greater, as United went on to win that year’s title by four points.