Sir Alex Ferguson has been left hoping for a Devon Loch-style Manchester City collapse after Manchester United's failure to register a massive win over Swansea.
United's 2-0 success means they will go into the last day trailing City on goal difference, which they have no chance of clawing back when they visit Sunderland.
Instead, the Red Devils are relying on old boy Mark Hughes to do them a favour by claiming the point QPR need at the Etihad Stadium to secure their top flight survival.
It looks like an impossible task. However, it only takes a reminder of the fate of the Queen Mother's horse in the 1956 Grand National to realise sometimes unexpected mishaps do occur.
"There could be a Devon Loch. You never know," said Ferguson, after seeing his side collect three points thanks to first-half goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young.
"Stranger things have happened in this game of football.
"They're red-hot favourites but we've won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don't mind doing it again."
Speaking on the pitch, addressing supporters after the final whistle, Ferguson told them to get ready for "the biggest celebration of their lives" at Sunderland next week.
Yet earlier, he had conceded "they (City) probably have two hands on the trophy".
"The crowd will be right behind them," he said.
"And they will be into the referee as they were doing against us."
Should City win, it leaves United open to becoming the first team to lose the league on goal difference since they inflicted a similar fate on Leeds in 1965.
Hughes certainly has plenty of incentive, both for his own side's fate and due to the treatment he received from City, when he was axed as manager in December 2009 with Roberto Mancini already lined up to replace him.
"QPR need a point and they're fighting for survival," said Ferguson.
"The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish Sparky was playing.
"But Mark knows his job all right. He was sacked by City in a very unethical way and he'll remember that."
And no matter how the title races unfolds, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is certain United will be a formidable force next season.
"Manchester United are serial winners," he said. What makes them great winners is how they respond to not winning trophies.
"So if it is not for them this year, when you look at their history, they always come back the next year and win, so they will be there or thereabouts next season."