3 September 2007, by Lorna Danion

Nani instrumental in narrow United victory

Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland

Cristiano Ronaldo sat out the last match of his suspension as Manchester United struggled to another unconvincing victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford.

The champions again missed the Portuguese as they struggled to find a cutting edge in attack, until substitute Louis Saha made a goalscoring return by heading home a late winner.

Despite being huge favourites against the north-east side, managed by United legend Roy Keane, the Red Devils found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities in the first half.

Nani, starting his fourth game in succession, dragged a cross-shot past the far post, while debutant Anderson found Tevez on the left of the area for the Argentinean to fire at Craig Gordon from a difficult angle.

Both Christopher Eagles and Paul Scholes drew comfortable saves from Gordon with long-range shots, but it was not until Saha’s half-time introduction that the home side’s goal threat increased.

The Frenchman, dogged by injuries since the turn of the year, quickly forced Gordon into an excellent one-handed save when he flicked the ball up and hit a swift shot on the turn from the edge of the box.

Despite the improvement from United, a winning goal had looked far from certain before Saha converted Nani’s in-swinging corner by nodding in at the near post. Nemanja Vidic came close to adding a second shortly afterwards, but United ultimately settled for another slender victory.

With just three goals in their opening five games, United will be hoping that the return of Ronaldo and the possible recovery of Wayne Rooney for the trip to Everton in two weeks’ time will provide the champions with the firepower to continue their climb up the Premiership table.

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Eagles (Fletcher 66), Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani (O'Shea 84), Anderson (Saha 46), Tevez
Yellow Cards: Vidic

Sunderland:
Gordon, Nosworthy, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Leadbitter, Yorke, Etuhu (Miller 82), Wallace (Stokes 82), Chopra, Jones (Murphy 69)
Yellow Cards: Leadbitter, Chopra

Goals:
[1-0] Saha, 72