Sunderland vs Manchester United - 0-1

 Sunderland vs Manchester United - 0-1 - All Goals

On the eve of Sir Alex's 25th anniversary in charge of Manchester United, the Reds boss celebrated in a manner he's become so accustomed to down the years: by guiding his team to victory. 

Rather cruelly for Wes Brown, though, it was his gift of an own goal, on his first visit back to Old Trafford after leaving for Sunderland in the summer, that settled the contest.

At full-time, United had moved to within two points of Manchester City, albeit without displaying much of the artistry and adventure that has characterised so many of Sir Alex's sides down the years.

It was certainly a day of big gestures and grand tributes, though. A giant banner was hung the length of the Stretford End, supporters received commemorative tribute magazines and Sir Alex himself was paraded before Old Trafford before kick-off, entering the pith through a guard of honour formed by the two teams.

Then came a bombshell: the club, for the first time in the stadium's 101-year history, had taken the extraordinary step of renaming one of its stands after an individual. Fittingly, Old Trafford's grandest structure, the hulking 26,000-capacity North Stand, that will now be known as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.

Of course, all this pomp and pageantry was just a prelude to the main event: a Barclays Premier League game the Reds  were desperate to win. The contest began badly for Sunderland striker Conor Wickham, though,