LONDON. Dec 31: Alex Ferguson will lie well on his way to a second conse cutive Premier League title if Ma-Wl« --ter United can beat Leeds at Old Trafford on Saturday, reports AFP.

Ferguson's men crushed Oldham 5-2 on Wednesday night to open up a 14-polnt lead at the top. with stars Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona both getting on the scoresheet.

Victory on Saturday against Leeds, who needed a late equaliser to salvage a point at home to Queen's Park Rangers in midweek, will almost cer tainly seal the title.

United have so far only lost once in their 23 Premiership games and would need a dlsas trous run of defeats to be caught by one of their three nearest rivals — Newcastle. Leeds and Arsenal.

Wednesday s dropped point left Leeds 15 points adrift of United and they know they have to win their two clashes with the champions to stand any chase of catching them.

"You can’t blame people for thinking the title race is over." left back Tony Dorigo admitted The gap is a big one to make up. so we badly need to beat (hem to keep our hopes alive."

Leeds are hoping Welsh midfielder-cum-winger Gary Speed will be able to return after missing four games with a knee ligament Injury.

With leading scorer Rod Wallace ruled out by a pulled hamstring, speed may be rushed back by manager Howard Wilkinson.

At the other end of the scale. Tottenham manager Ossie Ardiles is looking forward to a new era as well as a new year — and Id- seul iniciil > are

doubtlessly shared at crisis clubs Manchester City. Everton. Southampton and Chelsea.

"I'm hoping for a change of luck at Tottenham in 1994 — a new year and a new life." said Ardiles.

He arrived last summer at a club torn apart by boardroom squabbles, corruption allegations and the exit of Terry Venables.

Ardiles then faced a revolt by the players which culminated in the departure of captain Neil Ruddock to Liverpool.

With legal issues still unresolved, Ardiles faced trouble on the field when England striker T«ldy Sheringham was injured and then Gary Mabbutt almost lost the sight of his right'eye In a challenge by Wimbledon s John Fashanu.

Tt has been a very interesting year," added Ardiles with considerable understatement. "We've had one or two problems."

Those troubles eased when a Micky Hazard-inspired Tottenham won 3-1 at Westham this

week to record only their second Premiership victory in 13 attempts.

And Ardiles now has a selection poser, with Sheringham expected to be available or the visit of Coventry on Saturday after being out two-and-a-half months with knee trouble.

Manchester City could face a Newcastle backlash after Kevin Keegan's team ended a momentous year by becoming Chelsea's first league victims in 12 matches.

Keegan will be without captain Barry Venison (groin strain) for a fortnight and threatened several other unnamed players with the axe unless there is improvement against City.

The only match that matters now is against City." said Keegan. "If some of them start living in the past we will make changes — It's as simple as that. We have strength in depth and cash available."

Now Chelsea will attempt to scale dizzy heights with successive wins when they go to bottom club Swindon In a relegation six-pointer. But they didn't win a single away game in 1993.

No Premiership boss has been under greater pressure during 1993 than Southampton's Ian Branfoot. He was spat at during regular postmatch fan demonstrations as Saints struggled to climb clear of the relegation spots.

But a Christmas win over Chelsea and a point against Manchester City has sparked a mini-revival which Saints will do well to maintain against Norwich City. tof> Premiership scorers away from home.

Helping them from the sidelines should be former manager Lawrie McMenemy. who re-Joined the club after eight years as a director op Thursday.