Van Der Sar: we need to close gap at top

EDWIN van der Sar left Sunderland bemoaning more dropped points having spared Manchester United further pain.

The keeper made a fine 16th-minute save from Steed Malbranque after the Frenchman has waltzed through the United defence to collect Lee Cattermole’s pass, and Vidic got in a vital block to repel Nedum Onuoha’s snapshot.

Van der Sar needed the help of a post to keep out compatriot Bolo Zenden’s 37th-minute strike from distance, and although United, who were without Wayne Rooney, improved significantly with Dimitar Berbatov’s introduction as a half-time substitute, they were happy to hear the final whistle when it came.