10 things we learned from Sunderland 0-1 Man United

Published 17:56 02/05/10

1) Young midfield star Jordan Henderson has been making something of a name for himself this season. But MirrorFootball would be prepared to risk a couple of our hard-earned pounds that the highlight of his campaign came midway through the first half when he cheekily flicked the ball through Paul Scholes' legs. Altogether now... 'Nuts!'

2) Steve Bruce insisted before the game that he wouldn't be doing his old Man United boss any favours . Pity he didn't let his defenders know that as they stood watching the ball bounce around their penalty area before landing at Nani's feet for the opening goal.

3) Talking of Nani, the Portuguese wide man finally seems to coming into his own at Old Trafford after a slow-ish start to his career in the north-west. His opener at the Stadium of Light was his fourth goal in his last five games. So does that make him a great Nani?

4) There's been widespread speculation that Dimitar Berbatov has been playing for his Old Trafford future in the last few games of the season. So presumably he thinks that wandering around like a disinterested prima dona is the way to earn yourself a fat new deal?

5) Occasionally, though, the bulshy Bulgar does make a bit of an effort, as he did when somehow scooping the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out after more great work from Wayne Rooney. The brilliant pictures of Fergie looking to the heavens immediately afterwards probably sum up Berba's long-term prospects in the north-west.

6) Speaking of mis-firing strikers, Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones was being talked up a couple of years ago as a £40m player by former Stadium of Light boss Roy Keane. This season he's managed a whopping eight goals in 34 matches. Mind you, after Ipswich's woes this term, maybe that actually says more about Keane than Jones?!

7) It's widely accepted that no Rooney means no chance for England at the World Cup. So every time he chucks himself into a challenge the nation winces. But maybe it won't be injury that derails the Three Lions. Remember four years ago when the Roonster got himself sent off for stamping on Carvalho's gonads? Anyone else experience a worrying case of deja vu when Shrek got himself booked at the Stadium of Light for swinging a wild boot at Lorik Cana...?

8) Rooney, of course, will pick up his second individual bauble of the season in a couple of weeks when he collects the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year gong, having already been voted the cream of the crop by his fellow pros. Do you think he'll take his gloves off to accept the award?

9) Well, well, well... never mind who should go to South Africa as back-up centre-halves to Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, Fergie was clearly giving Don Fabio a few tips in the closing minutes when he introduced the England captain as a central midfielder. We don't imagine Gerro and Lamps will be having sleepless nights, though.

10) United's win sets up the first final day title deciders since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989 to pip the Reds to the trophy. Next weekend won't be as dramatic as that but, nonetheless, "it's up for grabs now..."

10 things we learned from Sunderland 0-1 Man United

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