Premier League: Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown handed his old side a 1-0 victory with a first-half own goal on his return with Sunderland.

On a night United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was celebrating 25 years in charge, Brown’s unfortunate deflection on the stroke of half-time saw the Red Devils take all three points despite an ordinary performance.

The win was enough to ensure United keep themselves on the tails of title rivals Manchester City and while Sunderland rarely looked threatening in attack, their organisation in defence frustrated the home side for much of the match.

As expected, United controlled possession from the start but were effectively stifled by the visitors through the opening half hour of play.

It was Sunderland, with their quick and effective transition play through the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastian Larsson and Stephane Sessegnon, who created the first two chances of the match.

Larsson first volleyed into the side netting from inside the box before Bendtner tested United keeper Anders Lindegaard from distance.

Keiren Westwood was called into action for the first time after 30 minutes when he comfortably held Wayne Rooney’s long range effort.

United finally began to find some penetration towards the end of the half as Hernandez was slipped through on goal only to be eased off the ball by Larsson, with the Mexican’s appeals for a penalty ignored by referee Lee Mason.

Sunderland’s forays forward became fewer and despite containing United for the most part they fell behind in rather innocuous circumstances.

Nani’s shot had been blocked by Westwood but the Portuguese winger fizzed in a corner that was met by Welbeck, whose glancing header found its way in off the unfortunate Brown.

As Sunderland looked for an equaliser they seemed to find less and less of the ball. But when they did get possession Bendtner and substitute Ji Dong-Won lacked the support they needed in the final third.

United had their best two chances to kill the match minutes later with only Westwood prevented them from putting the game to bed.

Rooney’s low shot from inside the box was superbly turned away before the Irishman stopped Evra’s follow-up from point blank range.

Larsson provided Sunderland with their best chance to equalise with 10 minutes to play.

He broke down the right and fed a low cross into the six-yard box that evaded everyone, including the outstretched leg of Bendtner, who could not quite poke it home.

The performance, although far from vintage United, provided the required three points and did enough to retain second place and some pressure on Roberto Mancini’s City.