Homing in on Number 20: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 1

Robin van Persie celebrates as he brought United the eventual winning goal for his side

Image retrieved from The Official Barclays Premier League Twitter page

Sunderland	Manchester United
Mignolet  Bardsley (Y 74')      (SUB Larsson 78')  Bramble (OG 27')   O'Shea (Y 48')  Rose      (SUB Colback 84')  Johnson      (SUB Wickham 75')   Gardner  N'Diaye (Y 26')  McClean  Sessegnon   Graham  Unused subs:   Kilgallon  Mangane  Westwood  Mandron	De Gea  Rafael      (SUB Evans 33')  Vidic  Smalling  Buttner  Valencia  Anderson      (SUB Cleverley 84')   Carrick  Young  Kagawa      (SUB Welbeck 78')   van Persie (Y 57')  Unused subs:  Evra  Lindegaard  Nani  Powell

Manchester United, at least for a couple of hours, will relish their dominating 18-point lead at the top of the table as the grinded out a win against Martin O'Neill's Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this Easter Saturday.

Sunderland started the first-half with gusto, threatening to do efforts on goal. One attempt came from Gardner in the sixth minute, and it was destined for the net if not for a block from United captain Nemanja Vidic. Quickly after that, the Reds sparked at the break with Young's cross sending the ball towards Phil Bardsley, whose both hands clearly blocked the ball.

At that point, Alex Ferguson's side suddenly got control of the game, with their left-hand side pouring punishment on Sunderland's defense. After dishing out a battering, the Red Devils finally got their goal. Given a lot of space, van Persie managed to squeeze into the box from the left side, who then took the shot. The ball deflected off Bramble, who made a last-ditch tackle, and in towards the back of the net.

Robin van Persie's (second in dark blue from left) shot deflected off Sunderland's Bardsley (in red, on floor) which sent the ball past goalkeeper Mignolet

Image retrieved from The Official Barclays Premier League Twitter page

The second half was seeing more of the same United dominance in possession in the first half. But try as they might, the Reds just couldn't get that second goal. Frustration perhaps showing itself, the Dutchman van Persie made an unfair challenge on Sunderland's Gardner, prompting a yellow card. It was at this point the Martin O'Neill's men started to put some pressure. Blistering runs and quick passess from Sessegnon, Gardner and Bardsley on the right saw Sessegnon receive the ball. He lobbed it towards the six-yard box and De Gea made a punch of it but clashes with Vidic along the way. Both got dazed from the collision and it prompted a short break from referee Kevin Friend.

The Black Cats continued to pull the strings on attack and possession as the Stadium of Light faithful churned their team on. McClean, Johnson and Gardner did well to exert pressure on the United defense, but stalwart Vidic, together with Jonny Evans, made sure goals were not conceded.

The Official Barclays Premier League Twitter page later confirmed that the RVP effort was indeed credited as a Titus Bramble own goal

United, for their part, continued to hunt for that closing second goal, to no avail. Buttner shot a screamer from the edge of the penalty box at the 81st minute, but it was saved by Sunderland's Mignolet. The Black Cats replied with an effort from Graham, but that too was saved, this time by De Gea.

In the end, both sides didn't get that crucial goal in the second-half, despite the six-minute stoppage time. But regardless of the narrow result, Sir Alex Ferguson would take the win anytime as they are now eighteen points clear at the top of the table, at least until Manchester City finish their game against Newcastle later on in the night, putting the Red Devils ever so closer to their 20th league title.

A Strong Response: Manchester United 3 Sunderland 1

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney smiles in celebration as he nets home the third and game-closing goal for his side

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Starting Lineups (Courtesy of Soccerway.com)

Goals of the Game

Manchester United: Van Persie (16'), Cleverley (19'), Rooney (59')

Sunderland: Campbell (72')

After Manchester City beat Newcastle 3-1 in an early kick-off match, United responded with a victory over Martin O'Neill's Sunderland with the same scoreline plus a dominant hold on possession to keep their six-point lead on the top of the table.

Sunderland kicked off the first half in a style they wouldn't be proud to remember as United dominated possession in the first fifteen minutes. Their unrelenting attack bore fruit when Sunderland's John O'Shea failed to clear an Ashley Young cross and instead sent the ball straight into Robin Van Persie, who tapped the ball home. United would get another goal just three minutes later, when Cleverley's curling shot swooped past keeper Mignolet and into the back of the net. Wayne Rooney would make a few attempts after that, but no dice.

The prolific Dutchman, Robin van Persie, opens United's goal tally for this match with a rebound tap-in

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Tom Cleverley (second from left, in red) curls a shot past keeper Simon Mignolet to put United 2-0 in under 20 minutes

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

While Sunderland was sub-par in the first half, creating only a few half-chances, they upped the ante in the second. Now without their talisman, Steven Fletcher, due to an injury he picked up at the end of the first half, they were out for vengeance. His replacement, the young Connor Wickham, got some space and kicked the ball just over the bar. Instead, they plunged deeper into deficit when Robin van Persie outmaneuvered Titus Bramble and made a pass to Wayne Rooney, who did not fail to score.

Wayne Rooney shoots in the endgame goal for United at the 59th minute

Image retrieved from The Official Premier League Twitter Account

Sunderland's Frazier Campbell gave his side a consolation goal with a cool header

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

At that point, Martin O'Neill's men no longer had anything to lose and everything to gain. As Manchester United started to relax a bit and started to bring on Nemanja Vidic, the Black Cats tried to pull one, which they successfully did. Sessegnon's cross was collected by Frazier Campbell from inside the six-yard box, who headed it in. 

After that, Sunderland tried to push on, to no avail. When the whistle was sounded, the game ended 3-1, and Sir Alex Ferguson's men keep hold of their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.