Although the Toffeemen produced a performance club legend Alan Ball would have been proud of on the day football bid farewell to a World Cup hero, it was United who emerged triumphant.

As if to rub salt into the Chelsea wounds – and wind Jose Mourinho up even more - Everton skipper and former Old Trafford stalwart Phil Neville was among the scorers, blasting his old club’s equaliser into his own net after John O’Shea had capitalised on Iain Turner’s blunder to give United hope.

But it was another ’old boy’ who came up with the devastating blow – Wayne Rooney ramming the taunts of the Everton fans back down their throats with his 23rd goal of the season 12 minutes from time before substitute Chris Eagles finished Everton off in injury-time.

With Chelsea failing to beat Bolton at Stamford Bridge, United now have a five-point lead with just three games remaining.

And, while they cannot win their ninth Premier League title at Manchester City next Saturday, victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men would leave Chelsea needing to win at Arsenal 24 hours later to ensure their high-profile clash with United at Stamford Bridge on May 9 was not totally meaningless.

There was no sign of what was to come when Alan Stubbs rasped home a brutal 30-yard free-kick to put Everton ahead early on and when Manuel Fernandes belted home a second after half-time, United were on the ropes.

But, as Mourinho now knows, Ferguson and his team are never more dangerous than when their backs are pressed up against the wall, which in itself, was a fitting tribute to Ball the battler.

The sustained and emotional pre-match tribute to Ball was led by the Everton legend’s tearful son Jimmy, whose conduct since his father’s unexpected death has been exemplary.

Even without injured star striker Andrew Johnson and keeper Tim Howard, who was prevented from playing under the terms of the contract which saw him join from United on a permanent basis in January, the hosts were determined to lay on a performance fit for the occasion.

Joleon Lescott had already gone close with a header which flicked off the crossbar before Stubbs struck with a free-kick which Edwin van der Sar could not keep out after it had flicked off Michael Carrick.

After a quiet start, Rooney finally got involved, unleashing a snapshot which Turner did well to turn round his near post.

Recalled from his extended loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, Turner could not have expected to be so underemployed.

There was a bit more huff and puff from Ferguson’s side after half-time before Fernandes doubled Everton’s lead with a thunderous effort after he had collected Arteta’s pass, then skipped to the side of Wes Brown.

Ferguson’s response, introducing Kieran Richardson for Evra at left-back, hardly eased the anxiety growing among the visiting fans.

But hope came quickly, and so did Ronaldo, after Turner inexplicably dropped Giggs’ corner at O’Shea’s feet, allowing the Irishman to bundle home.

Rooney looked certain to level when he left Joseph Yobo on the edge of the area, then lifted a shot over Turner, only for his old mate Stubbs to get his body in the way.

But the finish line was a long way off for Everton, and the game was flowing totally towards their goal.

As he thinks the world is working in United’s favour anyway, Mourinho’s discovery of the second Red Devils goalscorer would only have fuelled his paranoia.

Neville could barely believe it himself. In 11 hugely successful years at Old Trafford, Neville scored only five times in 263 league appearances. And none of them were as important as this one.

Again Turner was involved, although he could not do much more than get in the way of Ronaldo’s firm header as he rose to meet Michael Carrick’s corner.

The ball bobbled around in the Everton six-yard box before Neville, stood virtually on the goal line, thrashed it into his own net in a desperate attempt to clear.

There was more to come for United and their story writers, as the winner – and potential title-clincher, curled in off Rooney’s boot 11 minutes from time.

Rooney still had plenty of work to do when O’Shea’s far-post cross landed at his feet. But, on a difficult day from a personal perspective, how much maturity he showed to step inside Tony Hibbert, then find the bottom corner with his low shot.

Eagles added another in stoppage time, after Rooney had supplied the pass, and once news of Chelsea’s slip was announced, the celebrations really began.