Nani 28

A 28^th-minute strike from Nani, gave Manchester United the victory at the Stadium of Light which keeps them in the EPL title hunt until the last day.

United should have won easily and were rarely pressurised by a Sunderland side who contributed to an entertaining first-half but fell away after the interval.

Bulgarian international striker Dimitar Berbatov missed a series of gilt-edged chances, mostly created by Wayne Rooney, who made a successful return to United’s starting line-up after his groin injury.

But both were involved in the move which led to Nani firing a low right-foot shot across Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon for the vital goal.

Gordon did well to deny Rooney on only four minutes. But the Black Cats responded with gusto, John Mensah heading their best early chance over from a 16^th-minute corner.

Ryan Giggs clipped the post with his 20-yard shot on 22 minutes, while Steed Malbranque forced United keeper Edwin Van der Sar to tip over his long-range drive two minutes later.

Berbatov missed three great chances either side of half-time, firing the easiest over from three yards from Rooney’s pinpoint far-post cross.

And Michael Carrick was denied by Michael Turner’s goalline clearance on 78 minutes.