Manchester United hosted Sunderland at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday knowing that a win would restore their six-point lead over rivals Manchester City at the top of the table.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side encountered little resistance from the Black Cats as Robin van Persie, Tom Cleverley and Wayne Rooney put them into a 3-0 lead.
Frazier Campbell pulled a goal back for the visitors, who made life difficult for United in the closing stages, but the Red Devils saw out the match to claim the three points.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the match unfolded.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage as Manchester United host Sunderland at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Manchester United moved six points clear of defending champions Manchester City thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. However, City are currently in action at Newcastle United and they could cut the gap to three points if they win at St James' Park. The Blues currently lead 2-1 but there is about 35 minutes left to play. You can follow our live text commentary of that match here.
I should add that if you stay here then I'll update you with any developments at St James' Park.
A win for City would certainly put the pressure on United, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be expected to secure the three points against a Sunderland side who have struggled for form this season.
Ferguson has said this week that he doesn't want his side doing anything "silly" against the Black Cats. By that he means undoing all of the hard work at City last weekend.
Of course, plenty of the United players will have bad memories of facing Sunderland on the final day of last season. The Red Devils thought that they had won the league with a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light before Sergio Aguero scored his late, late winner to give Manchester City the title. Wayne Rooney has said in the build-up to this match that he and his fellow teammates have been waiting to get revenge on the Sunderland fans who taunted them that day.
We have some team news...
Man Utd: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young; Rooney, Van Persie
So, United have made two changes to the side that beat City last weekend with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling replacing Rafael and Jonny Evans. Nemanja Vidic has returned to squad following three months out through injury, but he starts on the bench.
Man Utd subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Hernandez, Vidic, Welbeck, Scholes, Fletcher
Sunderland: Mignolet; O'Shea, Bramble, Cuellar; Larsson, Gardner, Colback, Johnson, McClean; Fletcher, Sessegnon
Meanwhile, Sunderland have gone for just the one switch as Titus Bramble comes in for Danny Rose.
Sunderland subs: Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Westwood, Saha
I would call that a sensible move from the home side in starting Vidic on the bench. The United captain has been plagued by injury problems in the past 12 months and throwing him into the action today could backfire. Aside from the Serbian, there is an abundance of attacking options on the Red Devils' bench.
For the visitors it's a refreshingly offensive lineup that has been selected by manager Martin O'Neill. He's opted with both top scorer Steven Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon up front, while Adam Johnson, James McClean and Sebastian Larsson make up a five-man midfield.
UPDATE! It looks like Manchester City have wrapped up the three points against Newcastle as Yaya Toure makes it 3-1. The Magpies were threatening to level the match after Demba Ba pulled a goal back soon after the restart, but they will struggle to come back from this now.
And what of today's visitors to Old Trafford? Well, Sunderland have certainly found positive results hard to come by this season but Tuesday's 3-0 win over Reading was enough to lift them up to 15th place in the table.
That was only Sunderland's third Premier League win of the season and they will need to upset the history books if they are to make it two on the bounce today.
The last time the North East club picked up any points at the Theatre of Dreams was October 2009 in a 2-2 draw, but their previous victory was a 2-1 win in 1968 - the year that Manchester City pipped United to the title.
This fixture last season saw United scrape past their opponents 1-0 thanks to a Wes Brown own goal. It was also the day the manager Sir Alex Ferguson was honoured for his 25 years at the club with the stadium's North Stand renamed after him.
UPDATE! The full-time whistle has gone at St James' Park and United's lead at the top of the table has been cut to three points as Manchester City record a 3-1 win over Newcastle United. Sergio Aguero, Javi Garcia and Yaya Toure got the goals for the champions, while Demba Ba replied for the hosts.
Newcastle fans may well be worried after that one as their side is now just two points off the drop zone with the team around them yet to play this weekend.
Fifteen minutes to kickoff at Old Trafford...
I've plumped for a 2-0 win for Manchester United today purely based on the two teams' recent form. Today's hosts have been susceptible at the back in recent weeks, but their strength in attack should see them among the goals against the Black Cats.
That said, Sunderland's attacking lineup could see them cause United plenty of problems on the break. It looks like they;ve packed the midfield as well, which means the home side will have to work for the win.
The players are in the tunnel...
The players are out, the handshakes have been done and it'll be Sunderland to get us underway. Here we go!
United have an early opportunity down the right as Jones creates some space, but his low cross is collected by Mignolet.
The hosts have had most of the ball in these opening stages, though the Sunderland players are closing them down very quickly indeed.
Sunderland look to make themselves an opportunity now, but Gardner's pass it too long for Fletcher and the ball runs through to De Gea.
CHANCE! It's a decent effort from Young as the United winger hits the ball with power from the edge of the box, only to see Mignolet tip the his effort over. Van Persie takes the resulting corner, only for the Belgian goalkeeper to gather.
The home side are quite happy to knock the ball around, but Carrick spoils the flow when his intended pass for Valencia is whacked out for a throw in.
CHANCE! Evra has a glorious opportunity for United, but he hits his effort over the bar from all of 10 yards. Sunderland failed to clear a corner and Fletcher's poor clearance fell to the Frenchman, who blazed his shot too high.
United put the ball out of play after Jones stays down following a collision with Gardner. The United defender eventually gets up before hobbling back into position. He looks to be okay.
GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Van Persie)
The hosts lead and it's Robin van Persie who scores for his fourth Premier League game in a row. Ashley Young does well down the left, but his cross is cut out by John O'Shea. However, the former United defender's clearance only reaches Van Persie, who makes no mistake from eight yards.
SAVE! Van Persie almost makes it 2-0 instantly when he gets his head on Jones' cross. It looks to be going in before Mignolet gets his fingertips to it.
GOAL! Man Utd 2-0 Sunderland (Cleverley)
And it is 2-0! Tom Cleverley plays a delightful one-two with Michael Carrick before curling the ball past Mignolet and into the far corner. It's a long way back for Sunderland now.
TWO MISSES FOR ROONEY! Wayne Rooney has two wonderful chances to get himself on the scoresheet in quick succession, but he's wayward both times. The first sees him flash a volley wide following Van Persie's layoff before the England striker somehow puts his header off target from Young's floated cross.
Sunderland are still trying to force a way back into this game, though United have the wind in their sails.
The visitors have a rare corner which Johnson whips in, but De Gea gets a strong fist to it and clears the danger.
Sunderland are giving the ball away far too easily at the moment. Whenever they threaten to break, they limply surrender possession with a misplaced pass. They've found themselves in some decent positions, only to lack options.
The visitors lose possession again in a dangerous position which allows Van Persie and Rooney to lead a United counter attack. The Dutchman tries to pick out his strike partner, only for the pass to get cut out.
CHANCE! United hustle the ball off Sunderland in the final third and Carrick is played through by Rooney before having his shot snuffed out for a corner. Young whips it in and the visitors clear.
From nowhere, it's Sunderland who are doing the pressing. Sessegnon and Johnson both have cracks at goal, only to see them blocked by the United defence. A moment of worry there for the home side, but they deal with the danger.
INTO ROW Z! Cleverley is teed up by Rooney from all of 25 yards and the United midfielder hammers his effort high and wide. Young was free on the left and Cleverley apologises for not picking him out.
Three minutes plus stoppage time left in this first half.
Some indecision in the Unired box there as Carrick's header back to De Gea doesn't have enough power in it. However, Ferdinand is there to clear the ball with Fletcher lurking.
Bad news for Sunderland here as Fletcher is in some discomfort. He goes off for treatment on what looks to be the ankle that has given him problems during the past few weeks before coming back onto the pitch.
We'll have three minutes of injury time in this first half.
HALF TIME: Man Utd 2-0 Sunderland
Referee Chris Foy blows the half-time whistle and the teams go in with Manchester United leading Sunderland 2-0 thanks to goals from Robin van Persie and Tom Cleverley. In reality, the hosts could be four or five goals to the good such was their dominance in that opening 45 minutes.
Sunderland have offered very little in attack so far, while United have, at times, looked rampant going forward. Van Persie's opener was a simple finish from close ranger after the visitors had failed to clear their lines and Cleverley doubled the advantage with a slick finish that gave Mignolet no chance.
There are four other Premier League fixtures being played this afternoon, so here are the half-time scores...
PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:
Liverpool 0-2 Aston Villa
Norwich 1-0 Wigan
QPR 0-0 Fulham
Stoke 0-1 Everton
There was also an early kickoff in the Premier League today as champions Manchester City travelled to Newcastle United. Roberto Mancini's side withstood a comeback from the Magpies at St James' Park to claim the 3-1 win and close the gap on leaders United to three points.
What can Martin O'Neill say to his Sunderland players at half time? They need to keep possession better for a start as they have given the ball away very easily having got themselves into some decent positions. I'm sure he'll be looking at his bench, but there isn't a wealth of attacking options at his disposal.
The players are back out and it looks like O'Neill has indeed made a change as Steven Fletcher is replaced by Connor Wickham. The Scotland striker took a knock to his ankle at the end of the half and he can't continue. Meanwhile, Paul Scholes replaces Michael Carrick for the hosts.
United get us underway in the second half.
OFF THE BAR! United come close to adding a third right at the start of the second half, but Bramble deflects Rooney's effort onto the crossbar following Valencia's cutback.
DOUBLE SAVE BY DE GEA! We have a frantic start to the second half here at Old Trafford as De Gea saves Wickham's shot before reacting quickly to smother Sessegnon's follow up.
CLOSE FOR VAN PERSIE! The Dutchman is played through on goal, but the ball just won't sit right for him. He tries to lift the ball over the onrushing Mignolet, only to see the ball drift wide of the post.
It's died down a bit at Old Trafford in the last few minutes after what was an explosive start to this second period.
Almost a bizarre goal for Sunderland there as McClean's cross is deflected towards De Gea's near post, forcing the Spaniard to get a foot to it an concede the corner. McClean takes the corner, but it's a poor delivery and United clear.
CLOSE! The United defence fail to close Wickham down on the edge of the area before the substitute fires powerfully over the bar.
GOAL! Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland (Rooney)
It's 3-0 and you'd have to say that United are on course to restore their six-point lead at the top of the table. Van Persie does well to jink his way past Bramble on the left before squaring for Rooney, who taps in.
To their credit, Sunderland are still scrapping away. McClean leads a counter attack down the left, but the youngster is crowded out by Smalling and Evra.
That said, United surge forward again and the visiting defence just about manages to deal with a couple of crosses from Young and Van Persie.
SUBSTITUTION: There's a huge roar inside Old Trafford as Nemanja Vidic replaces Rio Ferdinand. The United captain has played just over 10 times during the past year and a half following a serious knee injury. What a boost that is for the squad. Meanwhile, Frazier Campbell comes on for Adam Johnson for Sunderland
GOAL! Man Utd 3-1 Sunderland (Campbell)
Do we have a Sunderland comeback on our hands? Sessegnon shows great persistence to retrieve the ball and his cross allows Campbell to head home in the six yards box.
The Black Cats look to have had an injection of confidence after that goal. Campbell is given bags of time to fizz in a low cross, but Jones is there to hack the ball clear.
SUBSTITUTION: United have made their third change of the day as Ryan Giggs comes on for goalscorer Tom Cleverley.
CHANCE! That would have been some goal for United as Scholes, Van Persie and Rooney are all involved, but Scholes fouls Bramble in the box when trying to poke the ball home.
Mignolet diced with danger there when he dribbled the ball past the oncoming Young. He got away with it. Just.
SAVE! Sunderland are looking for a second goal here! Wickham is found out wide by Larsson and his low drive is scrambled away by the legs of De Gea.
Valencia is a lucky boy not to get a booking there as he slides recklessly into Colback. It's the midfielder's last contribution as he is replaced by Sunderland debutant James McFadden.
CHANCE! Van Persie almost doubles his tally for the day, but he heads Jones' cross wide.
We'll have three additional minutes here at Old Trafford.
Evra whips a wonderful cross into the Sunderland box, but no one is there to get on the end of it.
FULL TIME: Man Utd 3-1 Sunderland
The full-time whistle goes and Manchester United restore their six-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table thanks to a 3-1 win over Sunderland. The home side were unstoppable at times this afternoon at Old Trafford and are fully deserving of the victory. The visitors showed plenty of determination after pulling a goal back, but they were unable to add to their tally.
That's all from me today, I hope that you've enjoyed the coverage. Remember that you can catch all of the reaction to today's matches here on Sports Mole. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
