Alan Hansen's column

By Alan Hansen BBC Sport football expert

There was the most unbelievable turnaround at the weekend during the simultaneous matches involving title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

Everton keeper Turner fumbles the cross which led to Man Utd getting back to 2-1

Chelsea were 2-1 up and United 2-0 down and, if you had said after an hour United would finish the day five points ahead, I would have said you were having a laugh.

One mistake turned it.

The thing about championship-winning sides is that even when they are down and out they capitalise when things are given to them. For United that was a mistake by the Everton keeper and they won 4-2.

United were really tired for 60 minutes and then they got a break whereas Chelsea were just playing the way they usually do and suffered one or two injuries as they were held 2-2.

You can't play every game brilliantly and these guys are all tired. It is the mental tiredness that is the toughest.

What happens is that if you win a match you go into the next one fresher.

Chelsea have been relentless in their pursuit but maybe fighting on four fronts has been too much for them.

Manchester United have done it with more flair but there is more than one way to play

Every game they've played has been a cup final and when you are doing that two or three times a week eventually that tells.

In addition, they have had a lot of injuries to key personnel and I don't think there is any team that has fought on four fronts. Two or three is tough enough but four is a bit much.

United now look like they are going to win the Premiership so Chelsea will concentrate on what they have left, which is massive.

Maybe United winning the league will be more pleasing to football purists.

Chelsea get a bit of stick because of Roman Abramovich's money but I think they have done exceptionally well.

Keane has masterminded an impressive revival at the Stadium of Light

United have done it with more flair but there is more than one way to play.

The purists will love their attacking flair and it's great to watch but Chelsea are a very good side and they've done remarkably well this season.

They, and United, still have tons to play for.

Meanwhile, the promotion to the Premiership of Birmingham and Sunderland has been assured.

It is great for Birmingham manager Steve Bruce and it is a vindication for the club's board in sticking with him when a lot of people were calling for his head.

For Sunderland boss Roy Keane it is dreamland. To take over Sunderland when they were really struggling near the foot of the table and to get automatic promotion is unbelievably good.

Sunderland are a massive club with great support and let's hope when they come up this time they stay up as the Premiership needs the big clubs.