1. Manchester United 1-0 Reading - March 16th
March 16th was an important day in the title race due to two games, the first of which was Manchester City's clash with Everton. Roberto Mancini's men knew victory was absolutely paramount if they were to have any realistic hope at all of overhauling Manchester United's 12 point lead, yet they well and truly blew it with defeat to the Toffee's, who had been reduced to ten men. Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic let loose two stunning drives to sink Manchester City and end their title dreams, while United, who were set to play later in the afternoon, once more took full advantage by defeating Reading in a cagey 1-0 win at Old Trafford. A deflected Wayne Rooney goal was enough to seal the three points and thus stretch United's lead at the top of the table to 15 points, a tally which is now surely insurmountable. It is perhaps these five instances that each set of managers looks back upon come May as being crucial factors in the winning and losing of the 2012/13 Premier League title.