Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years in charge of Manchester United with victory over Sunderland thanks to a helping hand from one of his former players.
Manchester United
Anders Lindegaard - 7
Hardly tested throughout the game and was solid when called upon, justifying the choice to pick him instead of David De Gea.
Nemanja Vidic - 7.5
The Serbian hardman showed why United missed him so much, winning most of the aerial challenges and stood firm against anything Sunderland threw at him.
Rio Ferdinand - 6.5
It seems like Vidic brings out the best in him. Ferdinand was easily calm and steady at the back and was hardly bothered by Ji Dong-won and Bendtner throughout.
Patrice Evra - 7
Showed more maturity by not bombing forward, choosing to keep an eye on Larsson instead. He looked lethal whenever he went forward, linking up well with Welbeck.
Phil Jones - 7
Curbed his tendency to go on the barnstorming run and kept close to Sessegnon, who was coming into the match in good form.
Wayne Rooney - 8
He looked comfortable playing deep and distributing the ball across the field while taking care of defensive duties. Hardly put a pass wrong and was definitely one of United's best players. Imagine what he could have done up front.
Darren Fletcher (Off 90')- 6.5
Swept up the midfield easily and looked for the ball to Rooney all the time. Fletcher was hardly bothered by Sunderland's generally immobile midfield.
Park Ji-Sung (Off 83') - 6
Another industrous performance by the Korean but all his running lacked an end product as his final pass failed him consistently.
Nani - 6
One of his poorer games as he lacked the creativity needed to break down the stubborn Sunderland defence. His corner kick did set up United's goal, though, and had a chance cleared off the line by Richardson.
Javier Hernández - 6.5
Spurned two excellent chances from inside the box to put the ball into the net, but proved that he knew how to play football outside the penalty box with a lively performance in the second half.
Danny Welbeck (Off 73') - 6
Welbeck seems to have some sentiment for the club he spent last season on loan at, being rather reluctant to run the ball through the defense. However, he did head home the goal and earned his side the win.
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (On 83') - N/A
Dimitar Berbatov (On 73') - N/A
Fabio da Silva (On 90') - N/A
Sunderland
Kieren Westwood - 8
Proved that he was a more-than-able deputy for Simon Mignolet, pulling off an excellent double save to deny Rooney and Evra.
Wes Brown - 5.5
Continued his record as ‘Own-goal King' at Old Trafford by turning the ball into his own net - luckily, he was not playing for United. One could only imagine if what would happen in the dressing room if he did that for the home side on Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary.
Michael Turner - 7
Controlled and coordinated the defense well, denying space to the United forwards. Ironically, he's the best-performing defender and the only one not to have been from Manchester United.
Kieran Richardson - 6.5
The former United midfielder-turn-defender came to his side's rescue with a goal-line clearance and kept Nani tame throughout the match.
Phillip Bardsley - 6
A quiet game from Bardsley as he looked happy to just sit back and defend for his side; didn't see much of the ball because of that.
Jack Colback (Off 76') - 5.5
The youngster was generally inefficient in the middle, failing to find his teammates with the through pass, choosing to delay the play by playing the safe pass back. Could have done more if he dared to try more.
Lee Cattermole - 6
His usual tenacious self and tried his best to keep Rooney from imposing himself on the game, forcing the England man to play from deep.
Stephane Sessegnon (Off 76') - 5.5
A very quiet game in contrast to his performance last week against Aston Villa, where he set up a goal and scored another. Shackled by Jones and couldn't find space to break through.
Sebastian Larsson - 7
Sunderland's biggest threat with his crossing skills, setting up most of their chances which includes one that Bendtner should have tapped in from close range.
Connor Wickham(Off 5') - N/A
Unfortunate to have landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off early.
Nicklas Bendtner - 5.5
The former Arsenal man was threatening early on, almost scoring after Larsson sent in an excellent cross, but faded as the game went on. Could have done better against an aging Ferdinand.
Substitutes
Ji Dong-won (On 5')- 5.5
Coming in from deep, Ji Dong-won failed to pose a threat to the United defense and was reduced to long shots which he blasted over most of the time.
David Meyler (On 76') - N/A
Ahmed Elmohamady (On 76') - N/A
Manchester United
Anders Lindegaard - 7
Hardly tested throughout the game and was solid when called upon, justifying the choice to pick him instead of David De Gea.
Nemanja Vidic - 7.5
The Serbian hardman showed why United missed him so much, winning most of the aerial challenges and stood firm against anything Sunderland threw at him.
Rio Ferdinand - 6.5
It seems like Vidic brings out the best in him. Ferdinand was easily calm and steady at the back and was hardly bothered by Ji Dong-won and Bendtner throughout.
Patrice Evra - 7
Showed more maturity by not bombing forward, choosing to keep an eye on Larsson instead. He looked lethal whenever he went forward, linking up well with Welbeck.
Phil Jones - 7
Curbed his tendency to go on the barnstorming run and kept close to Sessegnon, who was coming into the match in good form.
Wayne Rooney - 8
He looked comfortable playing deep and distributing the ball across the field while taking care of defensive duties. Hardly put a pass wrong and was definitely one of United's best players. Imagine what he could have done up front.
Darren Fletcher (Off 90')- 6.5
Swept up the midfield easily and looked for the ball to Rooney all the time. Fletcher was hardly bothered by Sunderland's generally immobile midfield.
Park Ji-Sung (Off 83') - 6
Another industrous performance by the Korean but all his running lacked an end product as his final pass failed him consistently.
Nani - 6
One of his poorer games as he lacked the creativity needed to break down the stubborn Sunderland defence. His corner kick did set up United's goal, though, and had a chance cleared off the line by Richardson.
Javier Hernández - 6.5
Spurned two excellent chances from inside the box to put the ball into the net, but proved that he knew how to play football outside the penalty box with a lively performance in the second half.
Danny Welbeck (Off 73') - 6
Welbeck seems to have some sentiment for the club he spent last season on loan at, being rather reluctant to run the ball through the defense. However, he did head home the goal and earned his side the win.
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (On 83') - N/A
Dimitar Berbatov (On 73') - N/A
Fabio da Silva (On 90') - N/A
Sunderland
Kieren Westwood - 8
Proved that he was a more-than-able deputy for Simon Mignolet, pulling off an excellent double save to deny Rooney and Evra.
Wes Brown - 5.5
Continued his record as ‘Own-goal King' at Old Trafford by turning the ball into his own net - luckily, he was not playing for United. One could only imagine if what would happen in the dressing room if he did that for the home side on Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary.
Michael Turner - 7
Controlled and coordinated the defense well, denying space to the United forwards. Ironically, he's the best-performing defender and the only one not to have been from Manchester United.
Kieran Richardson - 6.5
The former United midfielder-turn-defender came to his side's rescue with a goal-line clearance and kept Nani tame throughout the match.
Phillip Bardsley - 6
A quiet game from Bardsley as he looked happy to just sit back and defend for his side; didn't see much of the ball because of that.
Jack Colback (Off 76') - 5.5
The youngster was generally inefficient in the middle, failing to find his teammates with the through pass, choosing to delay the play by playing the safe pass back. Could have done more if he dared to try more.
Lee Cattermole - 6
His usual tenacious self and tried his best to keep Rooney from imposing himself on the game, forcing the England man to play from deep.
Stephane Sessegnon (Off 76') - 5.5
A very quiet game in contrast to his performance last week against Aston Villa, where he set up a goal and scored another. Shackled by Jones and couldn't find space to break through.
Sebastian Larsson - 7
Sunderland's biggest threat with his crossing skills, setting up most of their chances which includes one that Bendtner should have tapped in from close range.
Connor Wickham(Off 5') - N/A
Unfortunate to have landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken off early.
Nicklas Bendtner - 5.5
The former Arsenal man was threatening early on, almost scoring after Larsson sent in an excellent cross, but faded as the game went on. Could have done better against an aging Ferdinand.
Substitutes
Ji Dong-won (On 5')- 5.5
Coming in from deep, Ji Dong-won failed to pose a threat to the United defense and was reduced to long shots which he blasted over most of the time.
David Meyler (On 76') - N/A
Ahmed Elmohamady (On 76') - N/A
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