Sunderland 0 Man United 1: Nani Ensures Final Day Will Decide Championship

Manchester United ensured the battle for the Premier League title will go to the last day of the season.

They responded to Chelsea's success at Liverpool with a victory over Sunderland that was more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

Nani scored the first-half goal that condemned stubborn Sunderland to a defeat at the Stadium of Light for only the third time this season.

But there should have been more goals for United, with Dimitar Berbatov the chief offender as he missed three fine chances on either side of half-time.

REACTION:
Sir Alex Ferguson knows United are now the outsiders in their challenge for the title.

But the United manager refusing to accept that their pursuit of a fourth successive championship is effectively over.


He is relying on Wigan shocking Chelsea on Sunday, while United overcome Stoke at Old Trafford - and he has already started to talk up Wigan's prospects.

Ferguson said:"Wigan are a really good football team and will have a go.You never know what will happen in football. It's a crazy game.

"All we can do is win our game. That's what we want to do in front of our fans in our last game. It would be an incredible achievement if we won the title. Four in a row won't be done again. Hopefully we can stretch it out and keep the nerves going - you never know."

Ferguson was pleased with his team's performance at the Stadium of Light, although he insisted they should have won more comfortably.

He said:"The scoreline did does not reflect our dominance because we missed an awful lot of chances. We were careless in our finishing.

"One-nil is not a healthy score away from home, but we got there in the end. The fans were good and the players' attitude was terrific. They played good football and enjoyed the game.

"It was quite stormy. Sunderland were aggressive in their approach. We had to be bright - and I though we were."

Ferguson, who had earlier watched Chelsea's win at Liverpool, refused to be critical of the way Steven Gerrard gifted the first goal to the Londoners.

Ferguson said:"Steven Gerrard is a great player and he'll be disappointed with that, but these things happen. Liverpool were probably tired after extra time on Thursday, so it was a big ask for them to beat Chelsea."

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce admitted that his team lacked the killer touch that is needed against teams such as United.

Bruce, a former Old Trafford player, said:"We huffed and puffed but if I'm honest we lacked a little bit of composure. We missed that final pass or bit of control - the little things which make a difference. It wasn't our day."

"It was a great finish by Nani but we were disappointed with the goal as he's had two or three stabs at it. We made a game of it but we needed more quality and that's something we've had in our game at home recently."

Bruce and his players lapped the ground to thanks their fans after the final home game of the season.also had a message for the supporters after thanking them for their support after the game - and pledged to keep moving forwards.

"I'd like to thank the fans for their support today and for the reception," he said. "If that's the kind of reception we get for finishing 10th, it makes me even more determined to push onwards and upwards."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
With something to spare as far as United are concerned. Sunderland were energetic and aggressive, but were denied the ball for long spells and would have suffered a far heavier defeat if Berbatov had taken the chances that came his way. Edwin van der Sar made an important save from Steed Malbranque midway through the first-half, but it was a rare threat from Sunderland. Nani got the crucial goal, but Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs also went close, while a shot from Michael Carrick was cleared off the line.

WHAT IT MEANS:
The battle for the Premier League title will be decided on the final day for the fifth time. So the TV people will be delighted that they can keep the interest at fever pitch, although more sober judges will suspect it's as good as over. Ferguson will talk up Wigan's chances at Stamford Bridge, but a repeat of their win over Chelsea earlier in the season looks a long-shot. Make the most of the build-up because this two-club tussle for the title could be over soon after Sunday's games get under way.

QUOTABLE:
"Obviously I wouldn't say its a sealed result against Wigan"
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SUNDERLAND 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Nani 28)

PLAYER MARKING:
Sunderland (4-4-2): Gordon 8; Bardsley 5, Turner 6, Mensah 5 (Kilgallon 18,6), Richardson 6; Henderson 6 (Jones 74,5), Cana 5, Meyler 5 (Cattermole 37,6), Malbranque 7; Campbell 6, Bent 5.
Substitutes not used: Carson, Da Silva, A Ferdinand, Zenden.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Van der Sar 7; O'Shea 6, Evans 6, Vidic 6, Evra 7; Nani 8 (Hargreaves 90,5), Fletcher 6 (Ferdinand 87,5), Scholes 7, Giggs 6; Berbatov 5 (Carrick 71,5), Rooney 7.
Substitutes not used: Foster, Brown, Park, Macheda.

ATTENDANCE: 47,641

NEXT UP:
Sunderland v Wolverhampton (Away) Premier League 09/05, 1600 BST
Manchester United v Stoke City (Home) Premier League 09/05, 1600 BST

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Nani (Manchester United): The winger took his goal decisively, but was at the centre of several fine moves and rarely wasted the ball to show why so much is expected of him next season.