United go away with all the points as they finish the game dominant.

Jonathan Stead heads a United corner out to Elliot who battles with Phillip Bardsley.

Wayne Rooney comes forward on the right hand side, his first ball is deflected back to him and his second is put out for a corner.

Liam Miller is brought on by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Man Utd have a free kick 25 yards out. Rooney takes it but it is poor and the ball goes out.

Sunderland have a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Anthony Le Tallec drives the ball in and Edwin Van der Sar saw it late but makes a great save.

Stephen Elliott gets his first goal for Sunderland as he fires it into thetop corner past Edwin Van der Sar.

The ball drops for Andy Welsh who strikes it first time but it does not trouble Edwin Van der Sar.

Goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy is brought off for Giuseppe Rossi to make his debut.

Another goal for United on the counter attack as Rooney links up well with Ruud van Nistelrooy who sidefoots the ball into the back of the net.

Jonathan Stead is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Phillip Bardsley.

Ji-Sung Park sees a great shot cleared off the line by the Sunderland defence who are being put under increasing pressure.

Gary Breen plays a short ball forward but Phillip Bardsley is there to collect the ball and plays it forward.

Sunderland make a double substitution as Liam Lawrence and Andy Gray make way for Jonathan Stead and Anthony Le Tallec

Cristiano Ronaldo steps over the ball and whips the ball into Ruud van Nistelrooy who misses it by inches.

Wayne Rooney uses his strength to hold off Gary Breen and plays an unbelievable ball into Ruud van Nistelrooy but Kelvin Davis gets a vital touch to deny the United player.

Liam Lawrence totally overhits the free kick and gives the ball straight back to Edwin Van der Sar.

Andy Welsh down the left hand side. Phillip Bardsley stands his ground but Steve Bennett judges it to be a foul. Sunderland have a free kick.

Sunderland have a throw in deep into United's half.

John O'Shea plays the ball down the field and finds Wayne Rooney who feeds the ball into Scholes who has made a run.

Cristiano Ronaldo plays a one two with Ji-Sung Park, finds Wayne Rooney who plays it over the top but it is over hit.

Andy Gray breaks and plays it over Rio Ferdinand. Liam Lawrence picks the ball up and cuts it back but the angle is too tight and he finds a United defender.

No changes for either side at halftime as United get the second half underway.

United go in at the break with a surprise lead after Sunderland have dominated the first half.

Paul Scholes drives a corner low into the penalty area but Sunderland hit the ball out.

Stephen Caldwell receives a yellow card for a miss-timed challenge on Ji-Sung Park.

United on the counter attack find Rooney who beats Nyron Nosworthy and squeezes the ball past Kelvin Davis to give United the lead.

Dean Whitehead nods the ball back into the area. Mikael Silvestre misses it and Andy Welsh is caught in two minds and chips it to Andy Gray but Edwin Van der Sar recovers to win the ball.

Cristiano Ronaldo is booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle had gone.

Nyron Nosworthy takes a free kick for Sunderland, Rio Ferdinand heads it out to Liam Lawrence who plays it back in. John O'Shea deals with the ball but gives away a free kick.

Liam Lawrence with a lovely cross into the penalty area but no one gets on the end of it and Unites hang on.

Ruud van Nistelrooy breaks free of the last defender, Cristiano Ronaldo cuts the ball back to him, he turns and shoots but it is not on target.

Alan Smith puts in a sliding tackle and brings down Andy Welsh. Sunderland are awarded a free kick.

A great chance for Andy Welsh as the ball is played over the top of Phillip Bardsley but Edwin Van der Sar is quick off his line and smothers Welsh's shot.

Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy play a quick one two, Scholes breaks into the box and delivers a low shot but it is weak and is picked up by Kelvin Davis.

Sunderland come forward again on the right, Nyron Nosworthy puts in a cross and John O'Shea hits it out as far as Liam Lawrence.

Dean Whitehead receives a yellow card for a tackle from behind on Ji-Sung Park.

Sunderland break as Rio Ferdinand is beaten. Justin Hoyte plays the ball down the line to Stephen Elliott who turns and shoots but it is just wide of target.

A throw in for Sunderland is taken by Nyron Nosworthy to Liam Lawrence but John O'Shea stands his ground and forces him to the corner flag.

Sunderland have their second corner of the game. The ball is played in for Gary Breen who heads but Edwin Van der Sar at full stretch makes a fantastic save.

Ruud van Nistelrooy flicks the ball on with his head for Ronaldo but Nyron Nosworthy intercepts.

United have a free kick on the far side of Sunderland's half for shirt pulling. Scholes takes it quickly.

Rio Ferdinand tries to play the ball forward to Cristiano Ronaldo who makes a run through the centre but Gary Breen and Stephen Caldwell are there to win the ball.

Wayne Rooney collects the ball on the outside of the penalty area. He tries to find Park but the Sunderland defence stand firm and cliam possession.

Andy Welsh makes a searching run down the right, pursued by Ji-Sung Park. Phillip Bardsley comes across to make the challenge.

Steve Bennett gets the teams underway at The Stadium of Light.