Fergie lauds 'marvellous' Ron March 19 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as "a genius" after another stupendous free-kick saw Manchester United take the advantage in the title race.
The defending champions saw off Bolton 2-0 at Old Trafford thanks to two early goals from Ronaldo, captaining Sir Alex Ferguson's side for the first time.
The United boss believes the title race will go to the wire and heaped more praise on his skipper for the night, while opposite number Gary Megson called the winger "the best player in the world".
Ferguson said: "The important thing was that we had the opportunity and the incentive to go three points clear of Arsenal, our nearest pursuers.
"It's nip and tuck now. I think it's going to go to the wire. Chelsea will be key because they have got us and Arsenal at home.
"It's a lead, it's not a significant lead but it's a lead nonetheless.
"With eight games to go the team who plays with the most consistency now will win it."
The Scot made seven changes from the side who beat Derby and claimed he needed to test out various options ahead of Sunday's meeting with Liverpool.
Gerard Pique came in for the injured Rio Ferdinand while Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were all rested.
"It was not a great performance but it was necessary to make those changes as Rio Ferdinand is doubtful for Sunday with a back problem," he added.
"I had to find out about Gerard Pique. We've got great confidence in the lad and he's come through very well.
"They are all top players so you have to put your faith and trust in them.
"At times we were a bit relaxed in the second half but when we speeded up the game and played with great penetration at times we could have scored a few more goals.
"Ronaldo's free-kick was marvellous. He does put in the practice and he has this technique."
Ronaldo now has 33 goals this season - overtaking George Best's 32 in 1968, the most a United winger had scored in one campaign until now - and 24 in the league.
Ferguson added: "It's fantastic and speaks volumes about the player, it's amazing that he can do that playing in the position he does."
Megson saw some cause for hope in Bolton's fight against relegation after a good second-half display - and admitted his players were still in awe about the quality of Ronaldo's free-kick.
The Trotters boss said: "It was genius from probably the best player in the world at the moment.
"Everyone in the dressing room afterwards was talking about how he does it. We have seen him do it twice now and the truth is we just don't know how he does it.
"But for the first goal we caused our own downfall. The marking from the corner was sloppy and when you have that sort of quality against you then you cannot afford to do that.
"If we can replicate our second-half performance then there is optimism.
"We had more shots in this game than probably any away game we have played and we need to keep it going in every game until the end of the season."