The winning post is in view, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be taking nothing for granted in Saturday's three o'clock at Old Trafford, where in-form Fulham provide the opposition.
The United manager will miss his fancied horse What A Friend lining up in the Grand National at Aintree to oversee the visit of the west London club, who have discovered the knack of upsetting United and the odds in recent seasons.
Fulham have lost just one of their last four encounters with United, and are riding high after a run of just two defeats in their last 11 league games that has seen them climb clear of the relegation zone.
Mark Hughes's side will be further buoyed by the absence of United thoroughbred Wayne Rooney, who begins a two-match ban for his foul-mouthed tirade at Upton Park. But with the Premier League's topscorer Dimitar Berbatov in reserve and just two points dropped at Old Trafford all season, the home side will go into this match as strong favourites.
- Man Utd have won only one of their last four Premier League games against Fulham, but the London club are without a league win at Old Trafford since October 2003.
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Mark Hughes has won two, drawn three and lost six of his meetings as a coach with mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Man Utd have taken 49 points from a possible 51 in their last 17 Premier League games at Old Trafford.
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No opposition player has scored a first-half goal in a domestic match at Old Trafford since Joe Cole on 3 April 2010.
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United have won 70% (14/20) of their Premier League games that Wayne Rooney has started this season, compared to 45% (5/11) that he hasn't.
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Javier Hernandez has scored 11 goals from just 15 shots on target in the Premier League this season.
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Fulham are the only Premier League club yet to concede from a penalty this season. The only one they gave away was missed by Manchester United's Nani back in August.
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Damien Duff is one goal away from scoring 50 in the Premier League. He would become the third Irishman to reach this milestone after Robbie Keane and Niall Quinn.
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Fulham have picked up the joint-fewest yellow cards and are the only team not to have earned a red card this season.
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Man Utd - Leading goalscorers
Berbatov: 21 goals (20 league);
Hernandez: 17 goals (11 league)
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Fulham - Leading goalscorers
Dempsey: 11 goals (10 league); Zamora: 6 goals (4 league)
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Referee: Mark Jones