On december 2012
Martin O'Neill's Sunderland suffered defeat at Old Trafford as Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
The league leaders made a quick start and opened up a two-goal advantage inside the opening 19 minutes thanks to Robin van Persie and Tom Cleverley. United looked a dangerous attacking threat throughout and Wayne Rooney hit the bar in the early stages of the second half before tapping home van Persie's cross just before the hour.
Sunderland did pull a goal back when substitute Fraizer Campbell headed in Stephane Sessegnon's cross 18 minutes from time. The goal heralded a late push from the visitors who created some decent chances to further reduce the arrears, but United retained their hold on the game to seal victory. Read more
Manchester United: De Gea, Evra, Jones, Ferdinand (Vidic, m.67), Smalling, Cleverley (Giggs, m.73), Carrick (Scholes, m.45), Valencia, Young, Van Persie, Rooney.
Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Bramble, Cuellar, Colback (McFadden, m.85), Sessegnon, McClean, Larsson, Johnson (Campbell, m.68), Gardner, Fletcher (Wickham, m.45)
Goles: 1-0, m. 15: Van Persie; 2-0, m. 19: Cleverley; 3-0, m. 59: Rooney; 3-1, m. 72: Campbell.
Árbitro: Chris Foy
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