Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United: Visitors lose out on title despite win

Manchester United defeated Sunderland on the final day of the Premiership season, but lost out to City in the title race after the Sky Blues’ late recovery against QPR at the Etihad. Andrew Watson reports.

In a game which was played at a typical end of season pace, United never looked in danger of conceding, but could not build on Wayne Rooney’s 20th minute header which proved to be the winning goal.

Both teams started slowly, but once United eased themselves into the match, their five man midfield of Carrick, Giggs, Scholes, Young and Valencia began to dominate procedings with Giggs and Scholes, for whom this game could have been his last in a United shirt, particularly impressive.

The only goal of the game arrived when Phil Jones’ cross from the right hand side evaded the Sunderland defence to pick out the unmarked Rooney, who had the simple task of heading in from close range to give United the lead.

Rooney had enough chances to have scored a hat trick by half time, but he would have to be content with just one, as his free kick struck the crossbar and he failed to convert when Ashley Young fired the ball towards the goal after being set up by Antonio Valencia.

Sunderland rarely threatened before the break, but ex United striker Frazier Campbell volleyed their best opening wide from Stephane Sessegnon’s chip forward.

In the second half, the strong wind at the Stadium of Light prevented either side the chance to play football the way they would have wanted to, but United were always in control, and good goalkeeping by Mignolet stopped Rooney scoring a second, and he later denied Giggs after some clever play by United.

Paul Scholes was also denied what may have been a farewell goal when his shot beat Mignolet but struck the Sunderland post.

United were comfortable winners in the end, with events back home in Manchester providing the most excitement for the 46,000 in attendance. Though news of QPR’s goals at the Etihad were met by elation in the away end, ultimately it was to end in disappointment for the United fans as City clinched the title.

Manchester United finish the season as runners up, with their 89 points total the best ever not to win the league. However, even the most ardent supporter would struggle to admit that the best team won the title.

Season 2011-2012 is the first for seven seasons without another trophy in the Old Trafford cabinet, as a United team which many supporters believe is the worst at the club since the days of Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, and David Bellion, fell short of success.

Though the current squad is average by Manchester United’s standards, they matched the points total of the best squad City have ever had, but that is not enough for this to count as a good season for the red half of Manchester.

This summer should be an interesting one at Old Trafford. With rumours surrounding potential signings arising daily, United will need to add to the current squad to compete with City next season.

Though they cannot compete in terms of spending power, Sir Alex Ferguson will hope the draw of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs in the world will be enough to attract some top quality talent to the club, as United look to assemble a squad capable of claiming the league title back from City.

We had built up the Manchester derby as the title decider, and so it proved, but the key moment in this title race was Everton’s comeback to claim a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford last Sunday.

United letting a two goal lead slip with the title in their grasp is not like Manchester United, but they will look to bounce back from the disappoitment of this season as a stronger force next time around.

Whichever way next season plays out, the Premiership title could be in Manchester for years to come, on either side of the city. The Manchester dominance has begun.