Sunderland 1-2 Manchester United

Another pretty uncomfortable afternoon, another disappointing performance but crucially we got the three points. We didn't hit any heights again but at least this times we managed to control the flow of the game in the main. We still look suspect at the back though, it was frustrating that we seemed to be in total control of the game most of the time and yet every time they did manage to go forward they looked like they might manage to create something. And when you looked at their team it is doubly worrying as there wasn't much premier league quality to be seen. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the third team to go down along with West brom and Middlesbrough.
Ronaldo was left on the bench which at least meant we would get more work rate with Rooney playing on the left and Park on the right. Unfortunately Park didn't have one of his better games, Rooney played pretty well considering it can't be his favourite position or the most natural position for him to play. Berbatov came back into the team, but didn't really do that much and when he was took off in the second half his ankle was put back in an ice pack which suggests his ankle wasn't really up to being picked.
Scholes and Carrrick made up the central midfield and at least here we seemed to have got one man back to somewhere near to his best. Scholes was magnificent in the first half and was even making his old trademark late runs into the box. The first goal came from this source as a Rooney cross from the left was met by the glancing head of the ginger prince and United's domination of posession gained some reward. We hadn't actually created that much but at least we had got back to the basics of trying to control the game. The equaliser when it came was again another bad goal to give away. We had looked susceptible to crosses all afternoon and this is where it came from as Taino beat Park and put a tantalising cross that Foster thought he could reach but only managed to tip into the path of Jones who managed to scramble it home.
Once again United didn't react very well to the set back and for 5 minutes or so went at the game again.
Fortunately they cleared their heads and started to dominate the game looking for that vital winning goal. Ronaldo was brought on for Park and Macheda was brought on for Berbatov. One minute later we were back in the lead as a pretty woeful shot from Carrick which was going harmlessly wide was deflected into the other side of the net by Macheda. United's camp maintain he meant it, i'm not sure i still haven't seen it again.
One thing i do know is we should stick with this lad until the end of the season. I don't mean starting with him necessarily, but bringing him of the bench in tight situations. He has done it twice on the trot now, he can't do it every time obviously, but as Fergie says the boy has got something. We managed to see the rest of the game out reasonably easily so our season carries on limping away without us playing anywhere near our best but at least we seem to have found the winning habit again.

Michael Walker asks which United will turn up at Porto, it's a good question, i haven't a clue. The defence is a big worry that's all i know.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/machedas-little-boost-for-big-trip-to-porto-1667916.html

At last Fergie gets to grips with the ego that is Ronaldo
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5143987/Manchester-United-manager-Sir-Alex-Fergusons-warning-to-Cristiano-Ronaldo.html
It was noticable that he got back behind the ball when we didn't have it, tackled back and didn't sit on the floor waving his arms in the air when he lost it after he came on as a sub.

Henry Winter on Ronaldo
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5141316/Manchester-United-need-Cristiano-Ronaldo-to-walk-tall-and-pass-straight.html
You couldn't really write that article about Messi could you

Patrick Barclay on football finance and the disgrace that it is
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/patrick_barclay/article6083144.ece

I can't see Hughes being in charge at the boo camp next season, his United past will probably see to that
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article6083653.ece

Jackie Ashley on new labour sleaze
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/13/damian-mcbride-email-gordon-brown-cameron-osborne

Trouble in paradise?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/13/thailand-bangkok-protests

Disgraced bank collapses to be investigated by FSA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/12/fsa-investigation-rbs-hbos-lloyds

An interview with Armando Ianucci Whose The loop comes out this week. I can't wait for it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/13/armando-iannucci-interview-decca-aitkenhead

A taste of what will happen when the US leaves Iraq, scores will be settled.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-militia-fear-reprisals-after-us-exit-1668029.html

An alternative take on the Somali pirates
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-you-are-being-lied-to-about-pirates-1225817.html