MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - Sir Alex Ferguson has launched an inquest into Manchester United's campaign and claims his team's "stupid" 4-4 draw with Everton will be to blame if they fail to secure the Premier League title.
United, who boasted an eight-point lead at the top of the table a month ago, head into the penultimate weekend of the campaign with hopes of winning a record 20th crown out of their hands.
Ferguson and his players must beat Swansea at Old Trafford tomorrow (3am Fiji time) and hope fifth-placed Newcastle stop leaders City from winning (at 12.30am Fiji time) if United are to lead the table going into the final game.
Failure to win the Premier League will leave United facing the rare prospect of a trophy-less season, and Ferguson has already started an investigation into why his players have tailed off.
United were 4-2 up against Everton when they conceded twice in the final seven minutes to draw 4-4 on April 22. Since then they have lost 1-0 at Manchester City. "I think the Everton game was the killer for us. It was an absolutely ridiculous performance in the last 10 minutes of the match. Just absolute carelessness," said Ferguson.
"It's alright saying the history of the club is to attack all the time but it was a stupid performance and it's put us on the back-foot, no question about that.
"If we lose the league we'll have to accept it's the Everton game that did it. No doubt about that."
United are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at City and are hoping Newcastle can do them a favour. "That is a tough game, there's no question about that," added Ferguson, when asked about City's trip to Champions League hopefuls Newcastle.
"They know that, everyone knows that. But at the end of the day, we're on the back foot. We're not favourites, that's for sure."