Manchester United against Sunderland

...Again, Ronaldo blasts his effort high over the crossbar. A truly dreadful shot from the youngster, who has had a poor evening.

...Again, Giggs and Ronaldo stand over the set-piece...

United win another free-kick; 30 yards out, slightly right-of-centre...

Silvestre finds some space after a mistake by a Sunderland midfielder, but his cross in to the area is cut out by Caldwell.

Brown takes an arm in the face from Brown as they fought for a bouncing ball on the half-way line; Sunderland are doing a good job of battling away for loose balls, trying to eat up the valuable seconds.

A cross is fed in to the United penalty area, but Lawrence is penalised for a push on Silvestre as they contested the high ball.

Sunderland are starting to look tired, especially up front and in midfield, where they have run their socks off.

The United half is almost deserted at the moment as Sunderland pull all their players back to try and ensure they don't concede.

The United fans have gone a little quiet again, as if they are bracing themselves for one final push.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Le Tallac replaces Stead; Stead has worked hard this evening, but is replaced by the on-loan Liverpool youngster for the final ten minutes or so.

Ronaldo fires in a low cross from the right, but Davis collects at his near post. More pressure soaked up by the visitors.

Solskjaer clips a nice cross in to the box towards Van Nistelrooy, but Caldwell bravely throws himself at the ball and puts it out for yet another corner.

Sunderland are currently an incredible 71 points behind leaders Chelsea at the moment, and yet they are holding United 0-0 with just over ten minutes to go.

The relief around Old Trafford will be enormous, should United manage to snatch the winning goal; their whole title dream hangs on these final 15 minutes or so.

Sunderland need to somehow find a way of easing the pressure on themselves by retaining some possession when they clear the ball from their danger zone; the United pressure is relentless at the moment.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Leadbitter is replaced by Miller. Rooney shoves Leadbitter off the field in an effort to speed things up; the youngster is replaced by the more experienced Miller.

Sunderland's problem is that whenever they clear the ball, United are simply picking up the bits and pieces and mounting another attack.

INCREDIBLE SAVE! Davis pulls out a stunning save to turn Van Nistelrooy's shot around the post. The Sunderland keeper is having a career-defining game.

...but blasts his shot in to the defensive wall.

...Ronaldo stands over the set-piece...

Whitehead handles as Giggs tries to flick a pass through to Park. Another United free-kick in a dangerous spot...

Everyone expected United to win this game, but Sunderland's spirit has denied them; Chelsea must be laughing at the moment...

Park is brought down by McCartney, 25 yards out. Giggs takes the free-kick quickly, but fires his shot over the bar.

United have now had 17 attempts on goal, 8 on target. They have put the pressure on the relegation certainties, but Sunderland have held on.

United are starting to turn up the heat; can Sunderland hold out?

UNITED SUBS: O'Shea and Evra off, Solskjaer and Silvestre on. Attacking changes from Ferguson, searching for this elusive goal.

NOT HIS DAY! Rooney works some more space but blasts his shot high over the crossbar from 20 yards.

OOOH! Hoyte cuts in from the right wing; he has some space and decides to fire in a shot, but his left-foot effort is a yard wide of the post.

Sunderland keeper Davis is taking his time over goal-kicks and free-kicks, and it is really annoying the United players and fans.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Breen is replaced by Caldwell; the Sunderland captain must have picked up an injury, as he was playing very well at the heart of the visitors' defence.

Ronaldo should have scored with that last effort; he only had Davis to beat, and was just 12 yards out.

SAVE! Rooney feeds Ronaldo in the area, but again the Sunderland goalkeeper makes a one-handed save from Ronaldo's side-foot shot. Great stuff.

The United fans are starting to increase the noise level as their team begin to lift their play. It will be a tense final half-hour, I'm sure.

SO CLOSE! Neville sends over a good cross from the right; the ball evades Davis, but also Van Nistelrooy at the back post.

SAVE! Van Nistelrooy spins in the area and fires in a firm shot, but Davis makes a superb save. Great stuff from the Sunderland keeper.

The Old Trafford fans are really on edge now; they can sense that their side are well below par, and that Sunderland look fairly comfortable.

United's title dreams will go up in smoke unless they can get a goal in the final half-hour of this match. All the talk pre-game was about Chelsea slipping up at Bolton, but if United fail to win this, then the result at the Reebok Stadium will be academic.

United, on the other hand, are getting increasingly frustrated; they have had a lot of the ball, but their lack of width is making it easy for Sunderland and is giving them more and more belief that they can get something from this game.

This is the best I've seen Sunderland play all season; they are playing with real spirit and belief - odd, considering they are on the brink of relegation.

ALMOST! Brown's attempted cross causes a lot of concern for Van der Sar, who is forced to tip the ball behind for a corner.

Hoyte wins his side a free-kick when he is brought down on the half-way line by Evra.

O'Shea needs some treatment on a knock to the head, but he looks okay.

Evra makes up for an untidy clearance with a crunching tackle on Lawrence close to the by-line.

SAVE! Ronaldo cuts in from the right and fires in a low left-foot shot, but Davis makes the save, low to his left. Good effort.

A United legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer receives an enormous applause as he begins to warm-up on the sidelines.

WIDE! Stead turns and shoots from a couple of yards inside the penalty area, but his right-foot effort is a couple of yards wide of Van der Sar's near post.

Rooney gets up with a hobble after a challenge with Breen as they fought for a loose ball in the Sunderland penalty area.

Giggs looks really disappointed with himself for not hitting the target with that free-kick. He should at least have worked the goalkeeper.

...but Giggs curls his shot over the crossbar.

Giggs and Ronaldo stand over the ball...

Ronaldo is brought down from behind by McCartney; free-kick to the home side, right on the edge of the penalty area...

WHAT A PASS! Rooney brilliantly picks out Neville's run in the area, but the United skipper's cross is cut out by Davis.

United look to have come out having had a real half-time dressing down from their manager; they are knocking the ball about with more purpose now.

Park gets on the end of Van Nistelrooy's knock-back, but his low shot is touched around the far post by Davis.

United kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME: United have dominated possession, but Sunderland have looked comfortable. Sunderland have played excellently, and deserve to be level at the break.

WHAT A SAVE! Rooney finds space in the area to turn and shoot; he blasts a shot goalwards from six yards, but Davis makes a stunning save. Corner.

For all United's possession, they have only really tested Davis once or twice; Sunderland, in fact, have had the better chances.

OFF-SIDE! O'Shea feeds Van Nistelrooy in the area; he side-foots for goal, but Davis makes a wonderful save. The linesman's flag is raised anyway.

ALMOST! Ronaldo gives the ball away in midfield. Hoyt gets to the by-line and sends the ball across the face of goal, but it is just too strong for Stead, sliding in at the back post.

WIDE! Stead holds the ball up well on the edge of the area before firing in a low, left-foot shot which flies five yards wide of the near post.

The Sunderland fans are really enjoying themselves; they have seen their team perform well this half and have really quietened the home crowd.

United win another corner when Giggs's attempted volley is blocked behind. Sunderland defend the set-piece very well, once more.

AWFUL! Park cuts in from the right flank; he feeds Rooney, but his shot from the edge of the area flies high and wide. It hasn't been Rooney' best half.

The United fans are starting to get a little frustrated with what they're seeing; they were expecting a walkover, but it hasn't emerged.

OVER! Leadbitter's shot from 20 yards is sliced a few yards over Van der Sar's crossbar. Ferdinand looks relieved; it was his error that led to the chance.

Sunderland look very resiliant and organised at the moment; they are playing with a lot of pride and confidence.

It is so condensed and crowded in the middle, with Park and Ronaldo almost playing as additional central midfielders; United have no width at all.

Ronaldo is going through his full bag of tricks; unfortunately, none of them are coming off at the moment, and the Old Trafford fans are getting frustrated with the winger.

Sunderland cope with the corner quite easily; they have defended very well so far this evening.

Evra's cross from the left is headed behind at the far post by McCartney. United corner.

United are the top scorers in the Premiership this season, with 66 goals; Sunderland, on the other hand, have scored the fewest goals in any of the four English divisions.

ROOF OF THE NET! Rooney fires a shot in from the corner of the box; it deflects off the boot of Lawrence and lofts over the head of the keeper, but lands a foot over the crossbar.

SO CLOSE! Park comes right off his flank to pick the ball up; he collects the ball in the middle, but his left-foot shot dribbles a yard or so wide.

United are starting to get a bit sloppy; their passing isn't as crisp as it should be, and Sunderland look quite comfortable at the moment.

United have been a bit narrow going forward; Park and Ronaldo aren't really sticking to their wings, making it easier for Sunderland to defend.

Sunderland have given a good account of themselves in this half; they have looked good with the ball and occasionally threated on the counter-attack.

There has been bits and pieces of pressure from United, but no real sustained threat in this opening half-hour.

SCUFFED! Rooney gets on the end of a half-clearance, but his first-time volley is hopelessly scuffed and easily blocked.

Lawrence fires a free-kick in to the middle; Evra loses the flight of the ball and Brown is forced to clear up at the back post.

Sunderland look in the mood to enjoy themselves this evening; they know they have nothing to lose, and are playing with good ambition and confidence.

Lawrence fires in another shot, this time from the edge of the area, but Brown blocks his effort before it can trouble his goalkeeper.

United just seem to be over-complicating things a little at the moment; they are having all of the ball, but just need to concentrate on the basics.

CHANCE! Lawrence steals in at the back post and fires a low shot goalwards, but Van der Sar makes a comfortable save on his goal-line.

The atmosphere inside Old Trafford is hardly what you'd call 'electric' this evening; the fans are sitting on their hands, somewhat.

Ronaldo seems to be in a very mischievious mood; he has tried a couple of audacious tricks that haven't quite come off so far.

United are starting to look dangerous now; Sunderland are affording them far too much space to exploit.

CHANCE! Van Nistelrooy finds Rooney in space down the left; the youngster puts in a low cross, but Van Nistelrooy's flicked back-heel is deflected behind for a corner.

...Giggs goes for the bottom corner, but Davis makes a good low save at his near post.

Rooney is brought down by Collins, 25 yards out. Free-kick, slightly right-of-centre. Giggs and Ronaldo stand over the ball...

United have recorded 14 victories in their last 16 games in all competitions, their best run for years. They are on fire at the moment.

Evra makes an important tackle on the edge of his own penalty area after Brown had gone on a good run. Spirited stuff from the visitors.

Sunderland are on the brink of beating their own record for the lowest points total in Premiership history; they have really struggled this season.

It has been a very open, free-flowing start to the game, which should suit United's attacking instincts.

Giggs sends the set-piece in to the middle; Brown comes in at the back post, but just can't make contact with the loose ball.

United win the first corner of the match when he beats his man down the right and his attempted cross is deflected behind.

...Whitehead goes for goal, but curls his right-foot shot high and wide of the far post. Poor effort.

Brown is brought down by Giggs as he ran at the heart of the United defence. Free-kick in a threatening spot...

Van Nistelrooy can't quite work shooting space in the area after good play from Rooney and Ronaldo.

The Sunderland fans are taunting the United supporters with a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," the Liverpool anthem. Their efforts are roundly booed.

Murphy does well to fire in a cross from the left, but it is hit too hard and Stead can't control it in the area. Promising start from the Black Cats.

Murphy chases a ball down the left wing, but Ferdinand comes across to put it out for a throw.

Sunderland were forced in to a late team change just before kick-off; Delap was meant to start but suffered a nose bleed in the warm-up and had to pull out.

United have started well, moving the ball swiftly and accurately around this lush, Old Trafford pitch.

United going for 10th successive home victories, something they have never achieved in the Premiership.

Sunderland will be relegated this evening if they fail to win here. They've got two hopes, and Bob's just left town.

Sunderland kick off on a mild Spring evening in Salford.

Hi, welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of Sunderland's Good Friday trip to Old Trafford.

Sunderland need to somehow find a way of easing the pressure on themselves by retaining some possession when they clear the ball from their danger zone; the United pressure is relentless at the moment.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Leadbitter is replaced by Miller. Rooney shoves Leadbitter off the field in an effort to speed things up; the youngster is replaced by the more experienced Miller.

Sunderland's problem is that whenever they clear the ball, United are simply picking up the bits and pieces and mounting another attack.

INCREDIBLE SAVE! Davis pulls out a stunning save to turn Van Nistelrooy's shot around the post. The Sunderland keeper is having a career-defining game.

...but blasts his shot in to the defensive wall.

...Ronaldo stands over the set-piece...

Whitehead handles as Giggs tries to flick a pass through to Park. Another United free-kick in a dangerous spot...

Everyone expected United to win this game, but Sunderland's spirit has denied them; Chelsea must be laughing at the moment...

Park is brought down by McCartney, 25 yards out. Giggs takes the free-kick quickly, but fires his shot over the bar.

United have now had 17 attempts on goal, 8 on target. They have put the pressure on the relegation certainties, but Sunderland have held on.

United are starting to turn up the heat; can Sunderland hold out?

UNITED SUBS: O'Shea and Evra off, Solskjaer and Silvestre on. Attacking changes from Ferguson, searching for this elusive goal.

NOT HIS DAY! Rooney works some more space but blasts his shot high over the crossbar from 20 yards.

OOOH! Hoyte cuts in from the right wing; he has some space and decides to fire in a shot, but his left-foot effort is a yard wide of the post.

Sunderland keeper Davis is taking his time over goal-kicks and free-kicks, and it is really annoying the United players and fans.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Breen is replaced by Caldwell; the Sunderland captain must have picked up an injury, as he was playing very well at the heart of the visitors' defence.

Ronaldo should have scored with that last effort; he only had Davis to beat, and was just 12 yards out.

SAVE! Rooney feeds Ronaldo in the area, but again the Sunderland goalkeeper makes a one-handed save from Ronaldo's side-foot shot. Great stuff.

The United fans are starting to increase the noise level as their team begin to lift their play. It will be a tense final half-hour, I'm sure.

SO CLOSE! Neville sends over a good cross from the right; the ball evades Davis, but also Van Nistelrooy at the back post.

SAVE! Van Nistelrooy spins in the area and fires in a firm shot, but Davis makes a superb save. Great stuff from the Sunderland keeper.

The Old Trafford fans are really on edge now; they can sense that their side are well below par, and that Sunderland look fairly comfortable.

United's title dreams will go up in smoke unless they can get a goal in the final half-hour of this match. All the talk pre-game was about Chelsea slipping up at Bolton, but if United fail to win this, then the result at the Reebok Stadium will be academic.

United, on the other hand, are getting increasingly frustrated; they have had a lot of the ball, but their lack of width is making it easy for Sunderland and is giving them more and more belief that they can get something from this game.

This is the best I've seen Sunderland play all season; they are playing with real spirit and belief - odd, considering they are on the brink of relegation.

ALMOST! Brown's attempted cross causes a lot of concern for Van der Sar, who is forced to tip the ball behind for a corner.

Hoyte wins his side a free-kick when he is brought down on the half-way line by Evra.

O'Shea needs some treatment on a knock to the head, but he looks okay.

Evra makes up for an untidy clearance with a crunching tackle on Lawrence close to the by-line.

SAVE! Ronaldo cuts in from the right and fires in a low left-foot shot, but Davis makes the save, low to his left. Good effort.

A United legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer receives an enormous applause as he begins to warm-up on the sidelines.

WIDE! Stead turns and shoots from a couple of yards inside the penalty area, but his right-foot effort is a couple of yards wide of Van der Sar's near post.

Rooney gets up with a hobble after a challenge with Breen as they fought for a loose ball in the Sunderland penalty area.

Giggs looks really disappointed with himself for not hitting the target with that free-kick. He should at least have worked the goalkeeper.

...but Giggs curls his shot over the crossbar.

Giggs and Ronaldo stand over the ball...

Ronaldo is brought down from behind by McCartney; free-kick to the home side, right on the edge of the penalty area...

WHAT A PASS! Rooney brilliantly picks out Neville's run in the area, but the United skipper's cross is cut out by Davis.

United look to have come out having had a real half-time dressing down from their manager; they are knocking the ball about with more purpose now.

Park gets on the end of Van Nistelrooy's knock-back, but his low shot is touched around the far post by Davis.

United kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME: United have dominated possession, but Sunderland have looked comfortable. Sunderland have played excellently, and deserve to be level at the break.

WHAT A SAVE! Rooney finds space in the area to turn and shoot; he blasts a shot goalwards from six yards, but Davis makes a stunning save. Corner.

For all United's possession, they have only really tested Davis once or twice; Sunderland, in fact, have had the better chances.

OFF-SIDE! O'Shea feeds Van Nistelrooy in the area; he side-foots for goal, but Davis makes a wonderful save. The linesman's flag is raised anyway.

ALMOST! Ronaldo gives the ball away in midfield. Hoyt gets to the by-line and sends the ball across the face of goal, but it is just too strong for Stead, sliding in at the back post.

WIDE! Stead holds the ball up well on the edge of the area before firing in a low, left-foot shot which flies five yards wide of the near post.

The Sunderland fans are really enjoying themselves; they have seen their team perform well this half and have really quietened the home crowd.

United win another corner when Giggs's attempted volley is blocked behind. Sunderland defend the set-piece very well, once more.

AWFUL! Park cuts in from the right flank; he feeds Rooney, but his shot from the edge of the area flies high and wide. It hasn't been Rooney' best half.

The United fans are starting to get a little frustrated with what they're seeing; they were expecting a walkover, but it hasn't emerged.

OVER! Leadbitter's shot from 20 yards is sliced a few yards over Van der Sar's crossbar. Ferdinand looks relieved; it was his error that led to the chance.

Sunderland look very resiliant and organised at the moment; they are playing with a lot of pride and confidence.

It is so condensed and crowded in the middle, with Park and Ronaldo almost playing as additional central midfielders; United have no width at all.

Ronaldo is going through his full bag of tricks; unfortunately, none of them are coming off at the moment, and the Old Trafford fans are getting frustrated with the winger.

Sunderland cope with the corner quite easily; they have defended very well so far this evening.

Evra's cross from the left is headed behind at the far post by McCartney. United corner.

United are the top scorers in the Premiership this season, with 66 goals; Sunderland, on the other hand, have scored the fewest goals in any of the four English divisions.

ROOF OF THE NET! Rooney fires a shot in from the corner of the box; it deflects off the boot of Lawrence and lofts over the head of the keeper, but lands a foot over the crossbar.

SO CLOSE! Park comes right off his flank to pick the ball up; he collects the ball in the middle, but his left-foot shot dribbles a yard or so wide.

United are starting to get a bit sloppy; their passing isn't as crisp as it should be, and Sunderland look quite comfortable at the moment.

United have been a bit narrow going forward; Park and Ronaldo aren't really sticking to their wings, making it easier for Sunderland to defend.

Sunderland have given a good account of themselves in this half; they have looked good with the ball and occasionally threated on the counter-attack.

There has been bits and pieces of pressure from United, but no real sustained threat in this opening half-hour.

SCUFFED! Rooney gets on the end of a half-clearance, but his first-time volley is hopelessly scuffed and easily blocked.

Lawrence fires a free-kick in to the middle; Evra loses the flight of the ball and Brown is forced to clear up at the back post.

Sunderland look in the mood to enjoy themselves this evening; they know they have nothing to lose, and are playing with good ambition and confidence.

Lawrence fires in another shot, this time from the edge of the area, but Brown blocks his effort before it can trouble his goalkeeper.

United just seem to be over-complicating things a little at the moment; they are having all of the ball, but just need to concentrate on the basics.

CHANCE! Lawrence steals in at the back post and fires a low shot goalwards, but Van der Sar makes a comfortable save on his goal-line.

The atmosphere inside Old Trafford is hardly what you'd call 'electric' this evening; the fans are sitting on their hands, somewhat.

Ronaldo seems to be in a very mischievious mood; he has tried a couple of audacious tricks that haven't quite come off so far.

United are starting to look dangerous now; Sunderland are affording them far too much space to exploit.

CHANCE! Van Nistelrooy finds Rooney in space down the left; the youngster puts in a low cross, but Van Nistelrooy's flicked back-heel is deflected behind for a corner.

...Giggs goes for the bottom corner, but Davis makes a good low save at his near post.

Rooney is brought down by Collins, 25 yards out. Free-kick, slightly right-of-centre. Giggs and Ronaldo stand over the ball...

United have recorded 14 victories in their last 16 games in all competitions, their best run for years. They are on fire at the moment.

Evra makes an important tackle on the edge of his own penalty area after Brown had gone on a good run. Spirited stuff from the visitors.

Sunderland are on the brink of beating their own record for the lowest points total in Premiership history; they have really struggled this season.

It has been a very open, free-flowing start to the game, which should suit United's attacking instincts.

Giggs sends the set-piece in to the middle; Brown comes in at the back post, but just can't make contact with the loose ball.

United win the first corner of the match when he beats his man down the right and his attempted cross is deflected behind.

...Whitehead goes for goal, but curls his right-foot shot high and wide of the far post. Poor effort.

Brown is brought down by Giggs as he ran at the heart of the United defence. Free-kick in a threatening spot...

Van Nistelrooy can't quite work shooting space in the area after good play from Rooney and Ronaldo.

The Sunderland fans are taunting the United supporters with a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," the Liverpool anthem. Their efforts are roundly booed.

Murphy does well to fire in a cross from the left, but it is hit too hard and Stead can't control it in the area. Promising start from the Black Cats.

Murphy chases a ball down the left wing, but Ferdinand comes across to put it out for a throw.

Sunderland were forced in to a late team change just before kick-off; Delap was meant to start but suffered a nose bleed in the warm-up and had to pull out.

United have started well, moving the ball swiftly and accurately around this lush, Old Trafford pitch.

United going for 10th successive home victories, something they have never achieved in the Premiership.

Sunderland will be relegated this evening if they fail to win here. They've got two hopes, and Bob's just left town.

Sunderland kick off on a mild Spring evening in Salford.

Hi, welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of Sunderland's Good Friday trip to Old Trafford.