Just as Manchester United fans were starting to truly believe a tilt at the Premier League title was on comes the brutal reality check of a home defeat to rock bottom Sheffield United.
After 13 unbeaten matches in the league, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lost a match everyone expected them to win at a canter, pouring a bucket of cold water on aspirations at Old Trafford.
Not only did they fail to reclaim top spot from Manchester City, who still retain a game in hand, but the shock loss to the Blades threw up a number of old failings from the start of the season everyone thought had been vanquished.