5 Most Exciting Title Run-Ins of the Premier League Era

For those involved with the club who did it, securing a league title with a few or more games remaining is the ideal way to go about it. Less tension for all concerned and definitely in the case of the supporters—more bragging rights since your team was good enough to win it early.

For the neutrals however, it doesn't get much better than seeing a title race contested as long as possible. In the form of the 2011/12 Premier League season, we have got one that has gone down right to the last day and it has been one heck of a back-and-forth.

Manchester United seemed to have got one over their less successful neighbours once again as Manchester City's title push stuttered in the early days of spring. But with full credit to Roberto Mancini and his team, they did what it took to keep with Sir Alex Ferguson's side and restored a very slight advantage with a 1-0 win over them two games left to go.

Going into the final weekend they occupy first and second place with 86 points each, City in pole position thanks to their superior goal difference.

Pick any two clubs and this would have been an exciting fight for the title, but given that it has all played out as an almost long-form derby, there has been a feeling of even more at stake. Not just silverware, but the pride of a city.

How does this season's title run-in rank in comparison with those of the past?

Cast your mind back and relive memories of the five most exciting title run-ins of the Premier League era.

From West Ham United's helping hand for Blackburn Rovers (much to the annoyance of Sir Alex Ferguson!) to Chelsea's Italian-led renaissance, with an Arsenal triumph and the first part of a treble in between.

Read on for more and then after relive your own memories of these thrilling title race conclusions or any other you care to remember.

1994/95: Happy Hammers Help Blackburn Pip United

Three years prior to facing them in the final match of the 1994/95 season, Manchester United had lost 1-0 to West Ham United with two games remaining of the 1991/92 season. That result handed Leeds United the advantage and a few days later they would seal the First Division title.

Come 14th May, 1995, Alex Ferguson was once more cursing the Hammers of Upton Park.

Having won the 'first' two Premier League titles the previous two seasons, United went into the last day of 1995 just two points behind Blackburn Rovers. In brilliant form for much of the season, Kenny Dalglish's side had endured a frustrating April, where a draw and two losses (ironically to West Ham and Manchester City) had allowed the Red Devils back in at the very last minute.

Adding intrigue to an already thrilling climax to the season, the final day saw Rovers having to face Liverpool—former club of Dalglish and of course fierce rivals of Man United.

Liverpool did their old hero no favours, as tempting as it may have been to lay down and let Blackburn win. Instead goals from John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp gave them a 2-1 win (Alan Shearer scored for Rovers), leaving fans on tenterhooks in Blackburn, Merseyside and all over the country.

But rather than enduring the cruelest possible end to a season they had all but dominated, Blackburn's fears were quickly put to rest by the news United had only drawn at Upton Park, leaving them a point behind.

West Ham had turned in a superb display to hold United. Michael Hughes put them one up in the first half before Brian McClair equalised early in the second. Despite their best efforts, United were unable to put the ball past Ludek Miklosko in the Hammers goal and it finished 1-1.

Blackburn had held on and were champions.

1995/96: Newcastle Fall at the Final Hurdle

The story of 1995/96 is one mostly told of Newcastle United's collapse in the face of pressure from Manchester United.

A part of the tale that is often neglected is the commendable job Kevin Keegan's side did in keeping the title race going to the very last day.

They were only two points behind Alex Ferguson's young team (this being the year "Fergie's Fledglings" made their name), and had Middlesbrough upset the Red Devils, a win for Newcastle would have given them the title.

If that had been the case it would surely of have gone down as one of the greatest championship winning efforts in the history of the English game, and a testament to perseverance in the face of doubt.

Instead, that Newcastle side has become known for one of the biggest run-in collapses (having been 12 points ahead at the end of January), albeit one of the most entertaining collapses. In the midst of it all there were some truly memorable moments.

There was the televised thriller against Liverpool in early April, a 4-3 last-minute loss (to Stan Collymore's goal) that is still to this day regarded as one of the best games of the Premier League era.

Then as Man United continued to ratchet up the pressure, Keegan delivered a famous outburst live on television (see video above) as he took the fight to Ferguson. Again, had Newcastle gone onto win the title it may have become known as one of the great galvanising moments in football folklore rather than an example of a man uninhibited by self-control in the face of great pressure.

That final day saw Newcastle draw against Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Man United easily handled Middlesbrough 3-0.

1997/98: Arsenal Haul Back United as Wenger Wins His First Premier League Title

Without any relative prior knowledge, if you were to look at the final Premier League table of 1997/98 you might think it had gone right down to the wire. Only a point separated champions Arsenal from Manchester United.

In fact, Arsenal had sealed the title two weeks earlier with a triumphant 4-0 thrashing of Everton at Highbury. The closeness come the season's end being due to them losing their final two matches with United winning theirs.

Still, despite being comfortable in the end for them, the Gunners had engaged in a terrific battle with the reigning title holders, proceeding to hunt them down before taking the initiative in early April.

That run to the title took in a great win over United at Old Trafford, with Dutch winger Marc Overmars grabbing the winner. But more so, it was a championship that had been the result of the semi-revolutionary impact made by their manager Arsene Wenger.

Having taken charge the previous season, the Frenchman's ideas had fully taken root in 1997/98, blossoming with that charge in the second half of the season that.

It was a tremendous achievement.

Whilst he wasn't the first manager to add quality foreign players to a core base of talented Englishmen in winning the title (Ferguson can claim that himself, the likes of Kanchelskis, Cantona and Schmeichel mixing with Bruce, Cole and Giggs etc), he was the first to do so whilst implementing new ideas and methods across the board that inspired such results in his players.

Following a draw with West Ham in March, Arsenal went ten games unbeaten as they stalked their prey. United meanwhile would drop points in five of their games in the same period.

Just like they had put the pressure on Newcastle two seasons earlier, Arsenal had done the same this time around.

1998/99: United Hold off Arsenal to Secure the First Part of Their Treble

Considering the heroics in the final two stages of the tournament that saw Manchester United win their first European Cup since 1968, the job they did in winning the first part of the treble that continental success secured is sometimes overlooked.

But their edging Arsenal to the Premier League title that season was a huge achievement in itself, this being a Gunners side that was near enough every bit as talented as the previous year's champions.

Wenger's team were in fact the stronger of the two for much of the home stretch, winning five games in a row before a 1-0 loss at Leeds United proved ultimately damaging.

That handed Man United a slender point advantage going into the final game where they faced Tottenham, Arsenal's north London rivals.

It was Spurs that took the lead through a Les Ferdinand strike, a goal which would have given the Gunners the title had United been unable to respond and Arsenal win.

That they did, with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, but unfortunately for them Spurs were unable to hold out. David Beckham equalised before half-time then, shortly after the interval, Andy Cole lobbed Ian Walker to give United the lead.

2-1 it would stay. United were champions and the treble was one-third complete.

2009/10: Ancelotti's Chelsea End Man United's Four-in-a-Row Hopes

Going into the final day of the 2007/08 season, Chelsea and Manchester United were joint-top on points with 84 each. The latter won comfortably at Wigan Athletic while the west London club could not muster enough gusto to beat Bolton Wanderers.

Evidence that Chelsea could survive without Jose Mourinho, at least as credible title challengers, would have to wait a while. But when it did come a couple of years later, it was a success as sweet as any in proving this was a team blessed with resilience.

Despite a difference of two years, the Chelsea side retained virtually all its key components. The one main difference was that Carlo Ancelotti was the man in charge.

As was the case in 2008, the title race went down to a final day that saw Chelsea comprehensively assert themselves as champions of England once more with an 8-0 destruction of Wigan. But while this was the win that confirmed the fact, Ancelotti's team had shown their credentials just over a month earlier.

On the third of April Chelsea went to Old Trafford and beat the title holders 2-1.

It was a victory marked by a controversial moment, Didier Drogba's 79th-minute game-sealing strike (following on from Joe Cole's skillful opener) had come from an offside position. Yet despite this, their performance had once again shown Chelsea to be a brave and talented group.

United had won three league titles in a row, and were looking to truly establish themselves as the best side of the era with a fourth. Whilst Cristiano Ronaldo had departed the previous summer, they were still formidable opponents.

Chelsea reiterated their belief in themselves as not only England's best but one of Europe's top sides with this title. Though in some ways it was the last hurrah in terms of the collective as a Premier League force, it was also a reminder this was a team to underestimate at your peril.