From The Touchlines

RON PULLS THE TRIGGER: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) rounds up Birmingham City keeper Maik Taylor before clinically striking home United’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Steve Bruce’s men.

Manchester United brought themselves back to within two points of leaders Arsenal when the scrapped a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in an English Premier League match at St Andrews’ yesterday.

The solitary goal came largely from a defensive blunder by Frank Queudrue, and who to capitalise other than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sir Alex Ferguson chose to start with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez upfront, despite Louis Saha having the distinction of being the top scorer for the club – though not by much.

While United had scored a good run of narrow victories until this match, it was Birmingham who started the ball rolling – literally – right from kickoff, when forward Cameron Jerome tested Edwin van der Sar with a strike that was punched away neatly for a corner.

Five minutes later Rooney tried to lob past keeper Maik Taylor, but the Birmingham shot stopper was alert to reach for the ball.

Subsequently, his strike partner Tevez bamboozled his way into the Birmingham area and gave himself a chance of scoring a goal, but Liam Ridgewell put in an impressive but daring challenge to stop the Argentine.

It was after 17 minutes when Birmingham had their first real chance when Sebastian Larsson skipped past Patrice Evra on the right and placed a cross to Gary McSheffrey in the penalty area.

McSheffrey’s goalbound header, however, was brilliantly cleared off the line by Rio Ferdinand.

Birmingham then kept applying the pressure, with efficient man-to-man marking, led by Fabrice Muamba, proving to be a very thick thorn in United’s flesh.

United were still not fully warmed up yet, with Ryan Giggs failing to convert after Nemanja Vidic provided a nice throughball to him after 21 minutes.

A minute later, Ronaldo had United’s first clear-cut chance when he struck straight at Taylor after Wes Brown had delivered the pass to him.

Vidic himself tried his luck from Giggs’ corner, but the towering Serbian saw his header deflected over the bar.

Just as United were finding their way into the match, keeper van der Sar then went down with an injury to his right foot – which would later see him being replaced by his deputy Tomasz Kuszscak.

It affected his game subsequently, when the Dutchman miscued a simple clearance into the path of Jerome, but the latter’s shot was blocked by Vidic.

It was also then when the Red Devils’ defence began to look shaky, with the players losing the ball and their concentration in their own half.

On the half hour mark, Ronaldo played a telling ball into the area, but was sadly missed by everyone on its way out to safety.

Three minutes from time, it was Birmingham’s turn to look sloppy when Rooney picked up a loose ball in their half and immediately put Ronaldo through within sight of goal – but Taylor was quick to come forward and smother the attack.

Just before the break, Jerome and Queudrue played a nice one-two, but Queudrue could only send the decisive ball into the advertisement boards.

United got up and running quickly in the second half, with Tevez having a shot on target after three minutes of play.

It only took United another three minutes before they broke the deadlock at St Andrews, and they had Queudrue to thank for it.

The French defender somehow misread Ferdinand’s cross right on the edge of the penalty area, and Ronaldo made him pay when he immediately pounced on the ball.

It took the Portuguese stalwart a few more touches before drawing Taylor out. Then he placed the ball in the back of the net with ease.

He reeled off in what look like tension and anger being released from deep inside of him, while the United bench made clear their feelings over Ronaldo’s goal.

The goal was his first for United in the Premiership and his second in all competitions, after scoring in a UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon.

The goal sparked an even proceedings after that, but Kuszscak, who had replaced van der Sar at the break, was called into action (guess what) three minutes later when he just manages to hold on to McSheffrey’s blistering effort.

Kuszscak barely caught his breath when he had to punch away another of McSheffrey’s shots, which looked almost certain for goal when it took the slightest deflection off Ferdinand.

United were in really safe hands – and I’m not talking about David James here.

After 66 minutes, Rooney had his goalbound strike after a fine interplay with Tevez cleared off the line by fullback Steven Kelly. Bet he knows how McSheffrey feels now.

Four minutes later, Muamba was replaced with Wilson Palacios, who knew he had a huge boot to fill, so to speak.

Ronaldo then came agonisingly to doubling his tally when, after latching onto Rooney’s pass, put in a strike that just grazed the bar on its way out.

A less than eventful second half concluded with substitute Garry O’Connor, who replaced Mehdi Nafti seven minutes from time, taking his shot that was well saved by Kuszscak.

The victory was a much needed one, considering table toppers Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all won their earlier matches.

United are not quite where they should be in terms of form, but hey, my guess is they’ll take anything they can – as long as they win.

Team line-up

Bir: Taylor (gk), Djourou, Kelly, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Larsson, Kapo, Nafti (O’Connor, 83′), McSheffrey, Muamba (Palacios, 70′), Jerome

ManU: van der Sar (gk) (Kuszscak, HT), Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs (Saha, 64′), Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez (O’Shea, 89′)

THE DUCK IS BROKEN: Manchester United’s Carlos Tevez (centre) does not hide his delight as defenders Wes Brown (right) and Rio Ferdinand congratulate him after scoring a goal against Chelsea. United went on to win the match 2-0.

Avram Grant’s first managerial task against Manchester United turned out to be a disaster, with United churning out a well-earned 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

The match was not without its controversy, however, with Blues’ midfielder Jon Obi Mikel seeing a straight red after an apparent two-footed challenge on Patrice Evra.

The defeat sealed a miserable week for Chelsea, after a less-than-inspiring 1-1 draw against Rosenborg in the UEFA Champions League, and the subsequent shocking exit of Jose Mourinho.

A seemingly nervy Grant chose to start with Andriy Shevchenko as the lone striker up front, while United began with Tevez and Wayne Rooney leading the charge.

United were off almost instantly to a good start, with Rooney testing Chelsea keeper Petr Cech with a beautiful curler that was pushed out by the Czech after two minutes.

A minute later, Michael Carrick saw his header from Rooney’s cross. The signs of a torrid afternoon were slowly more telling – although United defender Rio Ferdinand had a glimpse of it when he hurt his groin.

Chelsea themselves were trying to move on after a tumultous week with Michael Essien doing well enough to put in a nice cross, but Shevchenko did not react quickly enough and the ball flashed across goal onto the other side.

It was after 17 minutes when referee Mike Dean had to make his first crucial decision, when Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole looked to have clumsily brought Evra down in the penalty area – but he chose to wave play on.

Eleven minutes later, Tevez almost broke his scoring duck when he struck a fierce drive, which was just as well held by Cech, who was called into action for the second time.

With United piling on the pressure, Chelsea, like their new coach, were struggling to get into the match, and this was clearly evident when Essien sloppily lost the ball in midfield just before the half hour mark.

The ball fell to, of all people, Rooney, who then pushed forward and brilliantly crossed into the box – only for Ryan Giggs to somehow blast the ball wide.

The killer blow came three minutes later, when Mikel and Evra, in an apparent 50-50 situation, collided with each other. But even more shocking was when Dean pulled out a red card, much to the amazement of the Chelsea players.

Even Sir Alex Ferguson was stunned, not to say Mikel who, for a moment, refused to leave the pitch, while his Chelsea bench was furious with the decision.

NO REF, NOT ME!: Chelsea’s Jon Obi Mikel (centre) fervently defends himself as Manchester United’s Patrice Evra writhes in pain. Guess what Wayne Rooney is doing. Haha no need to. Was just kidding.

But a no-nonsense Dean stuck to his decision and play soon resumed, with United picking up where they left off when Nemanja Vidic put in a strong header from Giggs’ freekick, which was saved by Cech.

Rooney then had a couple of half chances, but it was in the final minute of stoppage time when United secured a crucial psychological advantage over their archrivals.

In virtually the last attack of the half, Giggs’ corner was cleared, but only into the path of Wes Brown, who in turn headed the ball out right to Giggs.

The skipper then played a superb left-footed cross, which was nipped in near post by Tevez, who did well to get in front of Cech, with John Terry caught in between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine stalwart then reeled off in sheer delight to acknowledge the Old Trafford crowd, as Chelsea were left ruing concession of parity after holding out the entire half.

With the goal, United were content to casually pass the ball around in the second half, and it was only 13 minutes into the half when Giggs, again, with the goal at his mercy, blasted the ball over.

Carrick had earlier played a beautiful cross to him.

In an attempt to spur his players on, Grant took off Shevchenko and brought on Salomon Kalou and later took Florent Malouda off, with Shaun Wright-Phillips coming on in his place.

In between, despite the slow-motion second half, Rooney had a bullet strike in the 62nd minute saved by Cech.

Six minutes later, Rooney was slightly bruised after adamantly trying to connect with a through ball, although Cech was always favourite to get it.

Dean subsequently had to make another pivotal decision when Joe Cole, lucky enough to have been free of any cards, wildly lunge and caught Ronaldo’s heel.

Dean flashed a yellow card – a decision which raised the ire of Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Quieroz on the touchlines, who felt without a doubt that the England midfielder should have been sent off.

Sensing imminent danger, Grant decisively took off Joe Cole and brought on the just-returned Claudio Pizarro in his place.

But if anything, Tevez was given a thunderous applause after 79 minutes when he came off and was replaced by Louis Saha.

Ronaldo, having a relatively quiet game in his standards, then tested Cech seven minutes from time with a powerful freekick – but Cech the Czech was up to the task.

Saha would, dramatically, have the final say on the match, when he fell over after a tackle by Tal Ben Haim in the penalty area.

Contact was not much, but Dean could see that there was intent, and Saha clinically struck the ball down the middle as Cech went to his right, to secure United’s biggest win in all competitions this season.

Saha is also the top scorer now, but, surely, the day belonged to Tevez, who became the seventh United player to have scored this season.

As for the Blues, Mourinho’s shocking departure left a very sour taste in the mouth, and the defeat only compounded it further.

Food for thought? Just look at the picture below and make your own inferences. All I know is, it will take Grant a pretty long time – all season maybe – to win over the Chelsea fans.

The picture says it all, doesn’t it?

Team line-up

ManU: van der Sar (gk), Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez (Saha, 79′), Rooney

Chel: Cech (gk), Ferreira, Terry, Ben Haim, A. Cole, Mikel, Essien, Makelele, J. Cole (Pizarro, 75′), Malouda (Wright-Phillips, 69′), Shevchenko (Kalou, 59′) 

TWO THUMBS UP!: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledging the fans after the match against his former club Sporting Lisbon last night. United won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Ronaldo.

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo made a fine return to the club that first propelled him into the limelight, with a goal to seal a victory over Sporting Lisbon in their UEFA Champions League encounter last night.

It was muted celebrations for the Portuguese winger, who is still a firm favourite among the Lisbon crowd, noted by their appreciation for him when he was substituted.

Ronaldo partnered Wayne Rooney upfront, with former Sporting favourite Nani also making a return to the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Paulo Bento’s Sporting, meanwhile, began unsurprisingly with noted dangermen Joao Moutinho and Marat Izmailov, while Liedson and Yannick led the home side’s offence.

Sporting had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, and nearly put it to good use – only for United keeper Edwin van der Sar to thwart it with nice one-handed save from Liedson’s brilliant strike after 14 minutes.

With Sporting forcing United on the backfoot for most of the first half, Ronaldo himself had a chance when he brought out a fine save from Vladimir Stojkovic with a firm strike.

Nani also had a chance when he found himself in space in the 18-yard box, but his angled shot was deflected out.

Sporting closed out the half the stronger of the two, but it was a slow start to the second half for both teams, as they tried to find their footing on the horrible pitch conditions at the stadium.

United had a chance 12 minutes in the second half, when Ronaldo provided a nicely-weighted cross – only to see Ryan Giggs head it wide with a mistimed jump.

Five minutes later, United were in front, when Ronaldo connected well with Wes Brown’s inch perfect cross from the right and with a diving header, the ball was well beyond Stojkovic’s reach.

Ronaldo then reeled off in an apologetic manner to the home fans, with his teammates also celebrating as minimally as possible.

Bento subsequently took off Leandro Romagnoli and brought on Milan Purovic, but he was soon on edge as he saw Nani line up a shot.

But relief swept over him as Stojkovic made a splendid save to deny United the second goal that would have surely killed off the encounter.

Rooney’s return was cut short after 72 minutes when Louis Saha came on in his place.

Sporting’s Miguel Veloso then tried his luck, but his drive was easily saved by van der Sar, who only had to make the one crucial save til then.

But if that was anything to go by, the Dutch keeper would be kept on his toes again with 12 minutes remaining. This time, van der Sar had to be alert to block defender Tonel’s shot.

The rebound fell to Yannick, but the striker could only strike his shot into the stands as United breathed a sigh of relief.

Five minutes later, Ronaldo showed off his prowess of going past defenders, but his drive was comfortably saved by Stojkovic.

A minute later, Ronaldo could have scored an assist after flying down the left flank and placing a nice cross – only for Saha to waste the effort when the Frenchman somehow dragged the ball wide.

It was to be his last contribution as he was substituted with four minutes on the clock. But even as he left the field, the fans showed their appreciation with a standing ovation to the winger. Carlos Tevez came on in his place.

Saha was subsequently guilty of missing another chance after receiving a weighted cross from Tevez when, despite being in space, chose to play a first-time volley that did not trouble Stojkovic.

Purovic managed to ruffle some United feathers with a last minute strike at the death, but at the whistle, Ronaldo’s goal and van der Sar’s heroics would prove to be the dividing factor between both clubs.

Not one to forget his roots, Ronaldo then came onto the pitch and applauded the thousands of fans who had come to watch the match.

The win sealed a great night for British clubs, with Arsenal trouncing Sevilla 3-0 and Glasgow Rangers securing a 2-1 win over German outfit Vfb Stuttgart.

Team line-up

SLisbon: Stojkovic (gk), Anderson Polga, Tonel, Abel, Ronny (Pereireinha, 74′), Romagnoli (Purovic, 67′), Veloso, Izmailov (Vukcevic, 55′), Moutinho, Liedson, Yannick

ManU: van der Sar (gk), Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Giggs (Anderson, 76′), Ronaldo (Tevez, 86′), Rooney (Saha, 72′)

Whoever did the unspeakable sexual assault on this girl – ‘Kampung Baru molester’ or not – should be given the death sentence. Please, God, let the police find the perpetrator of this despicable act. And let justice be served. We cannot let any other perverts/criminals get away with heinous crimes such as this.

The message is clear: ‘Rest in peace with God. Malaysians will not let you die in vain’. Surely, this girl – unknown as she may be – deserves justice. At all costs, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Jalil.

Yes, we must. We don’t THINK we must do this – we MUST act and bring this lowly person to the face of justice.

In the meantime, does anybody – anyone – at all – who knows this poor little girl? Can her parents or caregivers please come forward?

MAN OF THE HOUR: Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic (third from left) being congratulated by fellow teammates after scoring the only goal in United’s 1-0 away win at Everton.

Manchester United, for the third time this season, conjured up a 1-0 away victory over Everton, but it was marred by an injury to leftback Mikael Silvestre.

The win, thanks to a neat header by Nemanja Vidic, takes United level on points with Liverpool, who deadlocked at 0-0 against Portsmouth.

United’s Cristiano Ronaldo started his first match after returning from a three-match suspension, but partner-in-crime Wayne Rooney, though fit, was still left out of the squad.

The home team, meanwhile, gave German keeper Stefan Wessels his debut after Tim Howard injured himself while on international duty.

Everton began the half bright and early, with Yakubu having the first try of the match – though it went wide off the far post, while Ronaldo had a snapshot after 15 minutes deflected out by centreback Joleon Lescott.

Two minutes later, however, Everton were denied a gilt-edged chance to score after Yakubu had seem to have gained an edge over Wes Brown, only for referee Alan Wiley to blow the whistle for the former’s alleged foul on the latter.

On the half hour mark, United had a brief spell in the Everton penalty area, with Vidic and Michael Carrick, despite being in good positions, both missing the target.

Everton then went on their own assault, with Spaniard Mikael Arteta having two good chances to test Edwin van der Sar but instead chose to play a pass.

It was the second chance that saw Silvestre fall and twist his knee while trying to make a tackle, and had to be lifted off on a stretcher (below) before substitute Nani came on in his place.

Update: Silvestre will be out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.

United midfield maestro Paul Scholes then scored himself an unnecessary yellow after punching the ball away in protest to Wiley’s decision over his alleged handball.

He put himself in a precarious position seconds later when he slid in a tackle on Arteta – a foul which could have seen him receiving a second yellow. But Wiley only gave a stern warning.

The half ended shortly without much incident, but upon the restart, Everton’s midfielder Phil Jagielka, upon receiving a nice ball from Yakubu, could only drive his shot wide off the mark.

That sparked proceedings at Goodison Park, with Andrew Johnson almost scoring with a header a minute later – only to see his shot come off after Scholes was spot on to clear it off the line.

On the other end, Scholes had the best opportunity to put the Red Devils in front after latching onto Carlos Tevez’s pass – but his strike was well over the crossbar.

Tevez himself was almost on the scoresheet, but his strike six minutes later fizzled over the bar.

Louis Saha, who scored the winning goal in United’s previous match against Sunderland, then came on in Ryan Giggs’ place, but it was Ronaldo who came within sight of the goal.

He was, instead, booked for an apparent dive after he looked to have been clipped in the area by rightback Tony Hibbert.

Everton made a double substitution by bringing on Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe on for Leon Osman and Yakubu respectively, but it was United who were celebrating a goal seven minutes from time.

Vidic did well enough to rise and connect with Nani’s corner and powered a header past Wessels, who had been largely untroubled the entire match.

That goal would have calmed the nerves of the visiting fans, although they had to content themselves with an opportunity by Everton’s James McFadden, who replaced former United favourite Phil Neville.

With two minutes on the clock remaining, McFadden, who had scored a brilliant goal against France in the Euro qualifiers, nearly did something similar this time around – but van der Sar was up to the task as he parried the ball away.

Falling to the most unlikely of players in Joseph Yobo, the centreback could not pull the trigger in time – even a second chance went begging for the defender as United held out for a narrow victory.

Team line-up

Eve: Wessels (gk), Neville (McFadden, 85′), Lescott, Yobo, Hibbert, Jagielka, Osman (Pienaar, 73′), Baines, Arteta, Johnson, Yakubu (Anichebe, 73′)

ManU: van der Sar (gk), Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre (Nani, 41′, Pique, 85′), Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (Saha, 62′), Ronaldo, Tevez

American Andy Roddick had a short day in the office today, when he sailed through to the quarterfinals of the US Open after Tomas Berdych retired from the match with breathing problems.

Roddick was leading 7-6 (8-6), 2-0 when Czech Berdych, who had called on the trainer on several occasions during the high noon tie, decided to call it quits.

Berdych subsequently hung his head, disappointment clearly written all over his face – though not seen by the crowd at Flushing Meadows, who had gathered in droves despite the heat.

Both players played a tight first-set tiebreaker, but Berdych went 6-4 up against Roddick on the latter’s serve.

Facing two set points and with the crowd behind him, Roddick pulled back to level matters at 6-6 on the Czech’s serve, and after the change-over Roddick held serve – barely – to take the first set.

In the second set, Berdych tried his best to stay in the tie notwithstanding the breathing problems he was facing, but when Roddick broke his serve to go 2-0 up, Berdych decided that enough was enough.

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American Andy Roddick next faces Roger Federer, the top seed, in the quarter finals of the US Open

Roddick will next take on Swiss top seed Roger Federer, who dropped a set against left-handed Spaniard Feliciano Lopez before taking the next three sets to ensure his safe passage into the quarters.

Federer somehow battled past the hard-serving Lopez, and admitted that the Spaniard’s service game was more often than not too hot to handle.

The fifth-seeded Roddick, who last won the home tournament in 2003, does not have a good record against the Swiss, having only won once in 14 matches – and that at a non-ATP tournament at the Queens Club.

But nonetheless, the American is looking to bring some joy to the home crowd and prevent Federer from winning his fourth consecutive US Open title.

Federer, on the flipside, has an immaculate record at the US Open, having won all his matches since 2004 til now. Argentine David Nalbandian was the last player to claim his scalp in the 2003 tournament.

In other fourth round matches, giant killers Agnieszka Radwanska and Victoria Azarenka both bit the dust after losing out in straight sets to their respective opponents.

Polish Radwanska, who had sent defending champion Maria Sharapova packing in the previous round, was easily disposed off by 18th seeded Israeli Shahar Peer – who had herself toppled Czech 13th seed Nicole Vaidisova in the third round.

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Israeli Shahar Peer takes on the Russian challenge, in the form of teenager Anna Chakvetadze, for a place in the US Open semi-finals

Peer, who will next face Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the quarterfinals, played the better of the two with better serving and hitting the key shots to dispatch the 30th seed 6-4, 6-1.

This was a stark contrast to her previous match against Vaidisova, where she slogged for two hours and 38 minutes before overcoming the 13th seed.

It was also the end of the road for Azarenka, who lost 2-6, 3-6 to fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The Belarussian player had earlier sent Swiss Miss Martina Hingis packing, but found herself in different territory against the former US Open champion.

Kuznetsova took advantage of a bad service game by Azarenka, breaking the latter’s serve to go 2-0 up before holding her serve to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Russian led for most of the set, with Azarenka staging a late rally to bring the set to 5-2 – but Kuznetsova again broke her serve to close out the set 6-2.

It was no different in the second set, although in the second game Azarenka staved off an onslaught on her serve to level at 1-1, and then held the Russian off on her serve to take the set to 3-3.

But it was Kuznetsova all the way from then on, and will next face her fellow New Haven finalist Agnes Szavay of Hungary in the quarter finals.

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It is a rematch for Hungarian Agnes Szavay, as she next faces New Haven winner and fourth seed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the US Open quarter finals

Szavay, who had beaten seventh seeded Nadia Petrova in the third round, got through to the quarters after sealing a 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) win over Ukranian Julia Vakulenko.

LOUIS SPOILS KEANO’S RETURN: Manchester United’s Louis Saha rising in between two Sunderland defenders to head in the only goal in United’s 1-0 win over Roy Keane’s men.

Injury-plagued Louis Saha made a goal-scoring return to action yesterday, with the only goal for Manchester United in a 1-0 win over Sunderland.

His return overshadowed Roy Keane’s sojourn back to the Theater of Dreams, while Norwegian hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who retired on Tuesday, was given a guard-of-honour prior to the match.

Sir Alex Ferguson gave new signing Anderson his first start, as the gaffer chose to rest Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs.

The first half was a dreary affair, with United’s Carlos Tevez and 21-year-old Chris Eagles having the best chances, testing Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon with their shots.

Possession was very much on United’s side, but they could not pose much of a threat to a well-organised Sunderland side.

The restart saw the return of Saha, who had been missing in action since midway last season – and he spurred United and the second half to life.

Five minutes into the second half, it was Tevez in with a chance after capitalising on a bad clearance by Danny Higginbotham, but his cleanly struck shot was held by Gordon.

Six minutes later, Gordon was in the thick of the action again as he blocked Saha’s first time volley, after the latter had chested down the ball brilliantly and making a turn.

From the resulting corner, United centreback Nemanja Vidic just volleyed over the bar.

United were not all secured at the back, with United keeper Edwin van der Sar having to come out and push away Rio Ferdinand’s backpass before Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones could do anything.

Midway into the second half, Owen Hargreaves saw his blistering shot stopped and eventually held by Gordon.

In almost as similar a time as the previous match, United finally took the lead after Saha rose in between Dickson Etuhu and substitute Daryl Murphy to head in from Nani’s corner.

It was sheer elation for the Frenchman, who had been sidelined for prolonged periods because of his injury.

There was no stopping United from then on, as both Nani and Hargreaves launched their own assault on Sunderland’s goal.

Sunderland made a double switch towards the end, bringing on Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes for Etuhu and Ross Wallace respectively, but United had the final say as Tevez’s strike was punched away by Gordon.

United held on for the much needed second win, and they next play Everton with Cristiano Ronaldo all set to return after a three-match suspension.

Team line-up

ManU: van der Sar (gk), Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani (O’Shea, 83′), Anderson (Saha, HT), Eagles (Fletcher, 65′), Tevez

Sun: Gordon (gk), Collins, McShane, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Wallace (Stokes, 82′), Leadbitter, Etuhu (Miller, 82′), Yorke, Chopra, Jones (Murphy, 69′)