The Manchester United manager has warned his players that if they lose two more games in the Premiership, the defence of their league title could be all but over.
United's 3-1 defeat by Arsenal was their fourth loss in the league this season and Sir Alex Ferguson believes they must ensure they do not lose twice more if he is to end his managerial career on a high with a fourth Premiership crown in a row.
Speaking after Sunday's disappointing defeat at Highbury, he said: "We've lost four games and I think six is the most we can afford to lose.
"I thought the players had already had their warning. I wouldn't say this is our last chance, but we've got a lot of work to do."
In the history of the Premiership, United have only lost more than six league games in a season once, in 1997-98, when they were beaten seven times allowing their most recent conquerors to snatch the title from their grasp.
Only once has the Premiership been won by any team who has lost more than six league games in their campaign. That was Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95, when they also pipped United to the title on the final day of the season, despite the fact that their Manchester rivals, ironically perhaps, had lost just six times themselves.
United have won the title three times with six Premiership defeats to their name; in the competition's inaugural season, 1992-93, as well as in 1995-96, and of course, last season.
On two of these occasions - namely last year and 1992-93 - their winning margin would have allowed them three more losses as they finished 10 points clear of Arsenal and Aston Villa respectively, whereas in 1995-96 they could have afforded themselves just one more slip-up with Kevin Keegan's Newcastle ending up four points adrift (after squandering a 12-point lead).
Looking at it from a more negative perspective, having been beaten four games this season, the Champions have already lost once more than they did in both the 1999-2000 and 1998-99 seasons and have equaled their tally of 1993-94 when they had the last laugh over Kenny Dalglish's men (winning by eight points).
So it would seem that Sir Alex's assessment of the task in hand is fairly accurate, although, with a number of teams looking capable of mounting a serious title challenge this season, previous statistics are likely to count for little as the tension mounts towards the title run-in.
The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger certainly believes his perennial rivals will still have a major part to play in the race for the new FA Barclaycard Premiership trophy, as he said on Sunday:
"I believe United will be there at the end of the season because of the talent they have and also because of the history of the club in recent years. They know they can do it.
"I expect them to react to this defeat because they've shown that before.
"Last year, they got knocked out of the Champions League and responded very quickly and strongly, so they will react in the Premiership," he added.
"Even at 1-0 on Sunday, I was scared they would score a second goal and it would be an easy game for them - they still have that talent."
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