While the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United had been in contention for the title throughout the 1996-97 campaign, Manchester United had been able to keep their challengers at arm's length.
What's more, when they made the trip to relegation-threatened Sunderland 17 years ago today, they did so riding the crest of a wave following a 4-0 victory over Porto in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Old Trafford.
However, what would unfold at a sunny Roker Park reignited the race for the Premier League trophy.
An injury to Gary Pallister forced United manager Sir Alex Ferguson into a defensive reshuffle, which involved the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, being deployed as wing-backs.
The hosts set about attempting to take advantage of any uncertainty among the away side's ranks from the outset, but despite dominating the first half, they couldn't find a way beyond Peter Schmeichel in the United net.
That all changed in the 57th minute, though, as the Danish keeper failed to deal with a Gareth Hall cross. That presented Michael Gray with the opportunity to break the deadlock from close range and the full-back duly obliged.
Then, in the 76th minute, John Mullin beat the United offside trap, before going on to slot the ball underneath an advancing Schmeichel and into the net.
Mullin's intervention provided Peter Reid's team with something to defend and although Andy Melville ensured that there would be a nervy finish to proceedings when he put through his own net in the closing stages, the Black Cats held out to secure all three points. It was their first victory in seven outings and also ended a run of four straight defeats.
As for United, their advantage over Arsenal at the summit was slashed to three points, while Liverpool were just a further point worse off.
SUNDERLAND: Perez; Kubicki, Ord, Melville, Gray; Ball, Hall, Bracewell (Williams), Kelly; Mullin, Bridges (Russell)
MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; G Neville, Irwin, May, Johnsen, Neville; Poborsky (Solskjaer), Beckham, Cruyff (Cole); Cantona, McClair
