Anyone who thinks Manchester United are out of the title race should look back at the league table this time two years ago to see just what Sir Alex Ferguson's side are made of.
A Boxing Day defeat at Middlesbrough left them seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who were about as invincible then as Chelsea appear now. United's title obituaries were being written and some even suggested Ferguson should have quit that summer as he had originally planned. But they then embarked on a magnificent run of 15 wins and three draws to beat Arsenal to the title by five points.
And despite all their problems this season, United are already well on their way to putting together an equally impressive run.
This routine win over Bolton confirmed their status as the Premiership's form team and no side - not even Jose Mourinho's all-conquering Chelsea - have taken more points than United from the past seven games.
They have 19 points from a possible 21 - Chelsea have 17 - to show they intend to have a major say in the title race. Of course, Chelsea must slip up for United to close the nine-point gap, but if Mourinho's men have the blip in form which Ferguson is predicting for them, his side are well placed to capitalise.
United also have the advantage of bags of experience from their previous title run-ins and it was two of their old hands - Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - who did the damage against Wanderers.'