United face Aston Villa on Saturday and Fergie’s team are unbeaten at Villa Park for the last 13-years.
Fergie insisted: “We’ve had a difficult first half to the season in terms of games away from home, against all the top teams and being away after every European tie.
“They say the league’s not handicapped but I think it is this season. Our hope and intention is that we get to New Year a couple of points behind the leaders. If we do that, we’ve got a big chance.
“We don’t want any slip-ups. The most consistent team wins the league and my side will have to be very good now. And we’ve made the point to the players that goal difference could be important, so we have to be sure we are the best at that.
“At this moment Chelsea are well ahead of us in terms of scoring goals, so there’s leeway to be made up there as well as the points difference.”
Fergie added: “Maybe it’s the kind of ground that suits us. Sometimes you have lucky grounds but it’s not down to that. We just usually play well there.
“Ryan’s goal will always be etched on the memory. And I remember going there in an FA Cup tie and winning 3-2 after being 2-0 down. You always have to perform well there to get a result and that’s what we’ll have to do.
“But my team’s form is good, they’re playing good football and making good chances.
“We created all those opportunities against Arsenal but did not take them and we were left a bit embarrassed.
“People keep saying that somebody is going to suffer. Well, we got five goals last week and because goal difference could be an issue, we must push on and make sure we take our chances.”
