adminTheir hosts reacted to the defeat that pushed them closer to the relegation zone by sacking manager Martin O’Neill. But at the other end of the table United are now within a few weeks of clinching the title.
“We have to win four games now, I think, but it’s important to focus on our next league match, which is Manchester City at home,” said Ferguson. “It was important to win today because we go into the City game next Monday with a 15-point lead.”
In fact, a win over City would leave Ferguson’s men, who are on 77 points, needing only one more win and a draw to secure the title as their rivals – who have 62 points — would be unable to overhaul an 84-point tally.
United welcome City to Old Trafford for what could be a memorable few days for Ferguson.
Next Saturday he will be at Aintree hoping his horse, Harry the Viking, can win the Grand National before his side take on City two days later with the title almost within their grasp.
Speaking after the victory, United’s top scorer Robin van Persie said: “We are a team full of winners. Everyone knows what he has to do and the result was never in doubt, even though it was only 1-0. I was always confident we’d win it.”
Van Persie was adamant he should have been credited with the match-winning strike, which went down as a Titus Bramble own goal.
“Of course, it was my goal,” said the Dutchman, whose 27th-minute shot took a double deflection off Phil Bardsley and Bramble.
“There is no question about that.”
The result stretched Sunderland’s winless run to eight games, which was enough for owner Ellis Short to end O’Neill’s stay at 483 days after taking over in December 2011.
Players and pundits reacted with shock. Michael Owen said: “Surprised Martin O’Neill has been sacked despite their recent results.”
Robbie Savage added: “Results have been awful, yes, but to sack O’Neill now is shocking, losing 1-0 to United, is that the tipping point? He could have saved them.”
Ahead of the game, O’Neill seemed to have little thoughts that the sack was so close.
“Am I still as determined and enthused about the game? I don’t think I analyse this every day but you have to have enthusiasm for the game,” he said.
A club statement said: “Sunderland AFC has announced that it has parted company with manager Martin O’Neill this evening. The club would like to place on record its thanks to Martin and wishes him well for the future. An announcement will be made in the coming days regarding a successor.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City capitalised on a stumble from Chelsea to tighten their grip on second place in the English Premier League on Saturday, after Manchester United took another stride towards the title.
United’s 1-0 win at Sunderland had given them an 18-point lead but City cut their advantage back to 15 points ahead of the forthcoming Manchester derby by crushing Newcastle United 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Carlos Tevez slid in to convert Gael Clichy’s cross in the 41st minute and David Silva made it 2-0 before halftime when he collected Samir Nasri’s pass and rifled a shot into the bottom-right corner.
Making his first appearance in two months, City captain Vincent Kompany added a third in the 56th minute with a flick from Gareth Barry’s low shot and an own goal from James Perch made Newcastle’s misery complete.
“Samir Nasri played very well and if we play like this we won’t have a problem in the last couple of months of the season,” said City manager Roberto Mancini.
“It’s important to get second place and to win the FA Cup semi-final next week.” City now have a five-point cushion in second place after Chelsea saw their hopes of Champions League qualification compromised in a 2-1 loss at Southampton.
Jay Rodriguez put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute, exchanging passes with Steven Davis and coolly steering the ball past the advancing Petr Cech.
Chelsea captain John Terry equalised in the 33rd minute, heading home from a corner, but Rickie Lambert restored the hosts’ lead two minutes later when he swept home a superb free-kick from 25 yards.
“We are really disappointed,” said interim Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez.
“We were giving the ball away too easily. The players playing today were playing to be in the Champions League next season.”
Southampton have now beaten City, Liverpool and Chelsea at home this year, and Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were the chief beneficiaries of their latest success.
Spurs won 2-1 at Swansea City to leapfrog Chelsea into third place, although they have played a game more.
Jan Vertonghen’s classy finish put Tottenham ahead in the 17th minute and the Belgian then teed up Gareth Bale to beat Michel Vorm with a vicious strike from outside the area.
Michu replied with a 71st-minute header, but Spurs held on.
Fifth-place Arsenal closed to within just two points of Chelsea after a 4-1 win at home to Reading, who sank to the foot of the table in new manager Nigel Adkins’ first game in charge.
Goals from Gervinho, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud saw Arsenal construct a 3-0 lead inside 67 minutes, with Mikel Arteta adding a fourth from the penalty spot after Hal Robson-Kanu had hit back for the visitors.
Everton moved to within four points of the Champions League after winning at home to Stoke City in the evening kick-off.
Manchester United took a step closer to a 20th English league title by grinding out a 1-0 win at Sunderland in the lunchtime game.
With an FA Cup quarter-final replay at Chelsea today, United manager Ferguson rested Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney but saw his side score the game’s only goal in the 27th minute when Titus Bramble diverted Robin van Persie’s cross into his own goal.
Victory was especially sweet for United as Sunderland’s fans had celebrated exuberantly at the Stadium of Light on the final day of last season when United found out they had been pipped to the title by City.
“They weren’t the only fans who enjoyed that, but that’s gone now,” United midfielder Michael Carrick told Sky Sports.
“It was about coming here, getting the points, ticking the game off, and keeping the run going.”
Defeat left Sunderland four points above the relegation zone in 16th place, although they have played at least a game more than the teams immediately below them.
Elsewhere on Saturday, an 81st-minute goal from Arouna Kone gave Wigan Athletic a 1-0 win at home to Norwich City that hauled Roberto Martinez’s side out of the relegation zone at Aston Villa’s expense while Andy Carroll scored twice, with Gary O’Neil also on target, as West Ham United eased their own relegation fears by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1. And Arsene Wenger praised Gervinho’s dazzling performance after the Ivorian forward inspired Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of struggling Reading.
Starting for the first time since December 8 after falling out of favour, and then representing his country at the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, the 25-year-old scored in the first half at the Emirates Stadium before turning provider after the break for Cazorla and Giroud.
A Mikel Arteta penalty after Hal Robson-Kanu had pulled one back for the visitors rounded off the win for fifth placed Arsenal to leave them just two points behind Chelsea and four behind Tottenham in the quest for a top-four finish. — AFP.
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