Scholes keeps Red Devils in hunt

Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1

However, though Jurgen Macho gave a passable impression of King Canute, even he could not prevent the ceaseless wave of Manchester United attacks finally drowning Sunderland.

It had been 'Macho The Magnificent' as the visitors entered the final 10 minutes still clinging to the lead handed to them by Juan Sebastian Veron's bizarre own-goal early in the contest. However, first, David Beckham levelled, then, in stoppage time, Paul Scholes nodded home United's 32nd and final effort on goal to break brave Black Cat hearts.

"I wasn't concerned until the 80th minute, then they started to get behind us and put dangerous crosses in," said Wilkinson. "After that it was like watching the tide coming in. There is not a player in the Manchester United side who cannot do something for them in attack.

"You can't look at anyone and say 'let them have the ball'. They have such drive and determination."

With Macho performing heroics, pulling off a string of excellent saves either side of the interval to deny David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Veron, Diego Forlan and, much to the England defender's frustration, Rio Ferdinand, Sunderland looked set to gain their first Old Trafford win since 1968.

Veron had given them the lead when he inexplicably attempted to nod Gavin McCann's lob away from danger even though Rio Ferdinand was better placed to clear on the line.

To his horror, the Argentine only succeeded in planting the ball into the top corner, forcing United onto an offensive which became increasingly desperate as time ticked by.

Yet, if anyone deserved to finally make the breakthrough, it was Beckham, who had covered every inch of the turf in his efforts to drag United back into the contest and indeed the entire title race.

When Ferdinand, booked for the first time since 1999 for a foul on Darren Williams, lofted a long ball beyond the Sunderland defence, Beckham pounced, sliding his shot beyond the advancing Macho for his third Barclaycard Premiership goal of the campaign.

"David timed his run very well and did what we all know he is capable of," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "In my opinion, he should be getting 10 goals a season for us, so it's pleasing that he has now scored twice in successive games."

Predictably, United were not finished, even though Macho again denied Forlan with yet another inspirational stop. When the Uruguayan failed to gain clean connection to Veron's cross in the final minute, Mikael Silvestre turned it back into the danger zone, where Scholes arrived with a perfectly-timed run to grab victory with a close-range header.

"It looked as though we weren't going to get the breakthrough," admitted Ferguson, who confirmed keeper Fabien Barthez had limped out of the contest with a thigh strain during the first-half.

"But we deserved the win. We showed the type of determination and perseverance we have done so often down the years."

Wilkinson must now raise his team for the FA Cup tie at Bolton this weekend.

"We have to take the positives out of this display because it wasn't the performance of a beaten, despondent team. We proved today that we have a lot of determination and are prepared to scrap for every point. That is the type of attitude we will need in the games to come."

MANCHESTER UNITED: Barthez (Carroll 29), O'Shea (Giggs 63), Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Beckham, Keane, Veron (Gary Neville 90), Scholes, Forlan, Solskjaer.

SUNDERLAND: Macho, Wright, Craddock, Babb, McCartney, Kilbane, McCann (Williams 14), Thirlwell, Stewart (Oster 84), Phillips, Flo (Proctor 72).

Referee: G Poll