JURGEN MACHO was the last to leave the Old Trafford pitch, hands on hips and head bowed as he slowly trudged away.

The Sunderland keeper could scarcely believe his efforts in keeping Manchester United at bay had come to nought.

Kevin Phillips, too, appeared shell-shocked by the cruel manner of Sunderland's third defeat of the festive season, as he stood staring into space for some time before dragging himself to the players' tunnel.

Three minutes earlier Sunderland had had the points they cherished snatched away from them by the predatory instincts of Paul Scholes.

Ten minutes before then Sunderland and the loud band of travelling fans had been dreaming the impossible dream as they clung on to the lead given to them by Juan Sebastian Veron's freak own goal in the opening exchanges.

But after losing to a 94th-minute goal at Southampton on Saturday, Sunderland's brave resistance was breached just as the fourth official signalled the second half stoppage time.

Yet Sunderland can put yesterday's result to one side and look ahead to the remainder of 2003 with cautious optimism as they embark on a grim struggle for Premiership survival.

Happy New Year? Not yet, but the green shoots of revival that have been nervously poking their heads out of the ground in recent weeks will soon blossom on the evidence of this performance.

Macho was immense, commanding his penalty area and providing a cast-iron case for Sunderland offering him a new contract as he entered the final six months of his current deal.

Jody Craddock and Phil Babb won every header there was to win, keeping at arm's length a United attack that sorely missed the injured Ruud van Nistelrooy.

In midfield Roy Keane struggled to assert himself in his personal battle against erstwhile Republic of Ireland teammate Kevin Kilbane.

And Phillips always threatened to capitalise on the defensive frailties of United and might have won a penalty after he was clumsily bundled over by Rio Ferdinand.

Sunderland, without a victory at Old Trafford for nearly 35 years, scored their first goal of 2003 inside four minutes.

Kilbane lured an ill-timed lunge from Wes Brown to win a free-kick down the right wing.

From Paul Thirlwell's cross, Keane headed to the edge of the box as Fabien Barthez flapped unconvincingly at the ball.

With Barthez's net unguarded, Gavin McCann tried to lob goalwards, but his effort lacked power.

However, Keane's attempt to clear succeeded only in deflecting the ball over Barthez and as Veron tried to head away, he diverted it into the net.

Had Veron missed the ball, Ferdinand would have had little trouble in nodding it to safety.

But Sunderland were in front, and United had no idea just how frustrating their afternoon's work was to become.

Within four minutes Scholes had seen a 20-yard shot flash past Macho and strike the inside of both posts before rebounding back into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.

The loss of McCann through illness - he was sick on the pitch during the warm-up - did not knock Sunderland out of their stride as they hustled and harried United to distraction.

Macho, excellent at Southampton four days earlier, flung himself to his left to beat away a David Beckham free-kick.

Mikael Silvestre missed from close range and Diego Forlan hit the side-netting, but Macho was equal to anything that was on target.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw a shot blocked by Macho's right foot after the striker had for once evaded the attentions of the Sunderland defence.

Macho simply would not be beaten, and he used every millimetre of his 6ft 4in frame to tip Veron's lob over the crossbar as United turned the screw.

Ferdinand was denied at the far post by the Austrian, who seemed inspired by the presence on the bench of Thomas Sorensen.

United were getting desperate and Marcus Stewart should have done better than to squander possession as he and Phillips raced through with the hosts over-committed.

But after all the pretty football United played in attempts to break down their indefatigable visitors, a good old-fashioned hoof helped to haul them level.

Macho's goal kick was booted back upfield by Ferdinand and Beckham reacted quicker than George McCartney as he chested the ball towards goal.

As Macho advanced, Beckham slipped his shot past the goalkeeper and in via a post.

The goal added impetus and purpose to United's play, and Sunderland were hanging on for grim life for the final nine minutes.

Solskjaer flashed a centre across the face of goal, while Macho turned away a Forlan shot as Sunderland wobbled.

Eventually, right on 90 minutes they buckled.

Brown's cross from the United right was headed away by Stephen Wright, but Silvestre hooked the ball back into the danger area.

Scholes was unattended six yards out, and as Macho tried to close him down the England midfielder nodded home.

There was no time for a riposte. Sunderland's players were beaten and broken men, and they had no more to give.

They deserved better.

Result: Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1.

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