SUNDERLAND'S worrying Premiership decline continues at an alarming rate and the hammering they received at the hands of the defending champions could have been far worse.

Peter Reid's unwieldy five-man defence had conceded four at the halfway mark and it was only when rampant United eased off the throttle as the Wearsiders reverted to their more familiar 4-4-2 system that a complete humiliation was avoided.

Sunderland had fight aplenty, but that quality alone was nowhere near enough to counteract a superb United side which, in the end, cruised to its tenth victory in 11 League games.

Manchester United are without doubt back on track to retain the title, but Sunderland are in dire straits as they face a desperate battle for Premiership survival after slipping to 15th place in the table, having taken only two points from the last six games.

Old Trafford has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Wearsiders, who last won a League game there is 1968. And when it was announced before the game that their star goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, was missing with a back injury, things looked ominous indeed.

And the worst fears were confirmed when United took a sixth minute lead as stand-in keeper Jurgen Macho allowed a low, angled drive from Phil Neville to travel under his body in the sixth minute to inspire a home onslaught.

Sunderland, with three central defenders in Jody Craddock, Stan Varga and £1.5m newcomer Joachim Bjorklund, were reeling under the siege - but then came a stroke of genius from striker Kevin Phillips.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had warned his defence to be on their guard against the England man, but the advice went unheeded in the 13th minute when Phillips latched on to a pass from Jason McAteer and cracked home a totally unexpected, low right-foot shot which completely deceived French international keeper Fabian Barthez as it zipped into the bottom corner of the net.

It was Sunderland's first-ever Premiership goal at Old Trafford in front of watching England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and briefly served to lift the team and their apprehensive fans, though the respite was only brief.

United, with the brilliant Roy Keane pulling the strings relentlessly from midfield, re-assumed control and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who'd hit a hat-trick in the rout of Bolton Wanderers four days earlier, wasted a couple of gift-wrapped chances as Macho started to earn his corn with a great save from the elusive David Beckham.

With Keane orchestrating and Beckham putting on a virtuoso performance Sunderland's shaky defence was run ragged, and it was only a matter of time before United regained the lead.

But there was great controversy over United's second goal, with Beckham smashing home an advanced freekick from the edge of the penalty after Varga had seemingly been whistled up for obstruction in the 25th minute, though the referee kept his arm down. Reid was incensed about the decision and revealed afterwards he sought words at half time with Hampshire referee Rob Styles.

He said: "I thought the freekick was for obstruction and it should have been indirect.

"I had a words with the referee at half time because I wanted to remind him there were two teams on the pitch."

There was nothing controversial, however, about United's next two goals, which accurately reflected their superiority.

Beckham, forever twisting and turning, delivered a great ball to Dutch goal ace Ruud van Nistelrooy, who cleverly swivelled to shoot left-footed past the helpless Macho.

And when Varga blatantly pushed Ryan Giggs after a dazzling run by the Welshman in the 43rd minute the £19m striker claimed his 26th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Even the most optimistic of Sunderland fans must have feared the worst in the second half, but Reid changed his tactics and there were no further goals.

The Wearside boss said: "I changed the shape and certainly a back four looked more effective, so what happened before that was down to me that was my responsibility.

"But I also think Manchester United might have taken their foot off the gas."

Reid picked out the hard-working midfielder Claudio Reyna and Phillips as his best players.

He said: "I thought Phillips' goal gave us a foothold and some of our passing and movement was good.

"But we just couldn't cope with them from a defensive point of view.

"There were things that changed the game and Beckham's free-kick was a major turning point."

He added: "Old Trafford is always a difficult place to come to and I think Sir Alex saves it up for us here by playing his best side - and they are always on fire, especially going forward.

"I think the team that wins the Premiership this season will have to finish above Manchester United."

Sir Alex praised Sunderland for making a game of it in the second half, when he felt his team played their best football of the season. He said: "It was a great performance our passing and movement in the first half was our best of the season.

"Sunderland switched to a back four in the second half and their midfield stopped the flow of the game. But we still played some great stuff and might have scored more goals."

But the Sunderland ordeal continues, and the visit to second-bottom Derby whose new manager John Gregory opened with a victory over Spurs will be no easy task before a formidable-looking derby game against high-flying Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.

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