Ferguson hails Scholes influence

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Paul Scholes has been a central figure in Manchester United's surge towards the Barclays Premier League title.

The Red Devils have been steadily turning the screw on Manchester City for the past few weeks and it seemed the Blues finally cracked on Sunday, losing at Arsenal soon after United defeated QPR 2-0 at Old Trafford to give Ferguson's men an eight-point lead with six games remaining.

United have taken 34 points from a possible 36 since Scholes came out of retirement. After the 37-year-old's strike against QPR, Ferguson said: "He has scored three since he came back into the fold and we have only dropped two points. You see the control of the game he has and the way he controlled the tempo of the game. That has never changed."

Ferguson added: "He is a great player and integral to what has happened over the past few weeks."

No matter how impregnable United's position, the Scot is anxious there should be no triumphalism until the work is over.

"I am pleased with our results," he said.

"There has been good consistency in our defending and now we are a goal better off and it is a game less. There are only six left now. Three at home, three away. Hopefully we can run it out."