Manchester United jump the gun as picture shows a Premier League champions ceremony was being set up

With the full-time whistle having been blown at the Stadium of Light, Manchester United's fans and players alike thought they had won the Premeir League title on the final day of the season.

Manchester United jump the gun as picture shows a Premier League champions ceremony was being set up
Premature: behind the scenes preparations were afoot for United's 'title' celebrations

They had beaten Sunderland 1-0 and City were losing 2-1 at the Etihad, with their game entering stoppage time.

Even City midfielder Gareth Barry thought a helicopter flying over the Eastlands Stadium was swiftly taking the real Premier League trophy up to wearside, despite five minute's stoppage-time being held up by the fourth official.

In fact, so close to full time was it at City, that boards heralding United as champions were being readied for a presentation ceremony at the Stadium of Light.

However, 140 miles away, as the clock struck 4.52pm, something incredible happened.

First, Edin Dzeko headed home to level the score at 2-2 against QPR. The boards and fireworks in Sunderland, meanwhile, were still being set up. United, as things stood, were still champions.

But, just three minutes later, with 94 minutes on the clock, Sergio Aguero burst into the box, rode a last-ditch tackle and fired the ball into the net past Paddy Kenny to complete a sensational comeback.

United's players, who remained on the Stadium of Light pitch anxiously waiting for good news, were informed of the result. Their faces dropped as one. And the celebration boards were quickly put back into the corner.