Man United 3 - 1 Sunderland

ROBIN VAN PERSIE and Wayne Rooney showed again they are the hottest strikeforce in the Premier League as leaders Manchester United restored their six-point cushion over neighbours City.

United soon followed Van Persie's simple 16th minute opener with Cleverley's cracker.

Van Persie then missed a sitter before swapping passes with Ashley Young to set up Rooney's close-ranger clincher in the 59th minute.

That security persuaded United boss Alex Ferguson to bring on defender Nemanja Vidic, out injured sine August last year

But it was another replacement who made an instant impact - for Sunderland.

Ex-United frontman Fraizer Campbell nodded home Stephane Sessegnon's 72nd minute cross.

But the Black Cats' hopes of a dream comeback never turned to reality as they slipped to just a point off the bottom three. Not for the first time, Sir Alex Ferguson had used the build-up to offer support to an under-fire colleague, only for his team to dismantle them 24 hours later.

In ridiculing those who questioned Martin O'Neill's credentials, Ferguson overlooked statistics that showed the visitors had won just twoe league games this term - at home to fellow strugglers Wigan and Reading.

And, within 20 minutes here, it had become apparent this was not going to be number three.

Ferguson had insisted those cheeky celebrations by Sunderland fans when the title was snatched away from their last-day visitors in May would play no part in the outcome. Nevertheless, there was a sense of purpose about United's start which has rarely been matched this season.

Patrice Evra had already wasted one excellent opportunity when Young wriggled away from Carlos Cuellar close to the dead-ball line, then cut a cross back which Van Persie finished expertly.

Yet the goal also needed much help from John O'Shea, who got himself into a muddle as he tried to clear Young's cross, which allowed Van Persie to profit.

Given Wes Brown's own-goal was the difference in last season's corresponding fixture, Sunderland's ex-United contingent have not had the happiest of returns to old haunts. Within three minutes, the hosts had their second.

If Cleverley wants to assume the Paul Scholes mantle, he needs to start finding the net more consistently.

And after two goals against Newcastle earlier in the campaign, the England man finally got his first in the Premier League at Old Trafford. It was a gem too as Cleverley exchanged passes with Michael Carrick before drilling an excellent effort past Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.

With United scenting blood, Rooney wasted a glorious chance when he volleyed wide from Van Persie's knock-down.

The England striker then steered a near-post header wide from Evra's cross as the Red Devils threatened to run riot.

Half-time was approaching before Sunderland carved out their first meaningful opportunity, which Sessegnon struck Evra with before it flew over. The interval introduction of Conor Wickham for the injured Steven Fletcher did trigger a flurry of activity around the United goal as David de Gea denied Craig Gardner and Sessegnon.

Yet the clear chances kept falling to the hosts.

Rooney's shot rattled the bar after flicking off Titus Bramble, with Young blazing the rebound over.

Then, given the number of goals he has scored so far this season, came the somewhat surprising sight of Van Persie lobbing wide after Young had sent the Dutchman running clear of an over-stretched Sunderland defence. There was little argument to be made for a Black Cats comeback and any pretence was ended just before the hour when an unselfish overlapping run by Van Persie was followed by a deft piece of skill that took him between Cuellar and Bramble before he set up Rooney, who tapped home from close range.

With victory assured, Ferguson felt sufficiently confident about easing Vidic back into the fray.

After only 13 appearances in a 16-month period that included a calf injury and two lots of knee surgery, the 31-year-old desperately needs to stay injury free in order to rediscover his old form.

Evidently, Vidic has plenty of work in front of him too judging by the uncharacteristic mistake that eventually led to Campbell heading in from close-in.

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand (Vidic 68), Evra, Valencia, Carrick (Scholes 46), Cleverley (Giggs 73), Young, Rooney, van Persie. Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fletcher.

Goals: van Persie 16, Cleverley 19, Rooney 59.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Cuellar, Colback (McFadden 85), O'Shea, Bramble, Larsson, Gardner, Johnson (Campbell 68), McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher (Wickham 46). Subs Not Used: Westwood, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Saha.

Goals: Campbell 72.

Att: 75,582

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Source: thesun.co.uk