Ferguson celebrates with win but City stay clear at top

LONDON (Reuters): Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years as Manchester United’s manager as his team beat Sunderland 1-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday although they stayed five points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after City won 3-2 at Queens Park Rangers.

United’s win, their fourth without conceding a goal since their 6-1 home loss to City last month, was overshadowed by Ferguson’s silver anniversary occasion and was far from glittering, with the winner coming from former United defender Wes Brown, who put through his own net just before halftime.

But City stayed clear at the top when they won a five-goal thriller at Loftus Road, where Yaya Toure headed home the winner 16 minutes from time.

With 11 matches played City have 31 points, followed by United on 26, unbeaten Newcastle United on 25 and Chelsea on 22.

It was an emotional day at Old Trafford but the game will not live as long in the memory as the other events on the day, with United’s chief executive, David Gill, announcing the north stand had been renamed the “Sir Alex Ferguson Stand” and that a statue of the 69-year-old Scot was being commissioned to mark his achievements for the club since he took over on Nov. 6 1986.

Ferguson has brought 37 trophies to Old Trafford and, although they are not leading the title race now, they still remain deep in the hunt for a 13th championship since 1993.

Ferguson admitted to Sky Sports afterwards: “I thought we were anxious but in the second half we improved, although the last 15 minutes was torture.

“I don’t know whether it was down to the way Sunderland played, or the occasion; these emotional occasions, which it was for me today, sometimes get through to them.”