Tempers flare as United stretch lead

Sunderland fans rose as one when Stefan Schwarz unexpectedly found himself alone behind the defence. Stam and Wes Brown looked forlornly towards the touch-line for a flag but the Swede's cross was too swift for even the long legs of Niall Quinn and Hutchison.

Barthez misjudged a deep cross after 15 minutes and Quinn nudged the ball away from Stam. Quinn was facing the wrong way and when the two tangled as the Dutchman tried to recover, Stam was given both the benefit of the doubt and the free kick.

But it was another nervous moment and Barthez did little to calm his team-mates moments later when he played keepie-uppie before volleying a clearance directly to Rae.

The midfielder cracked the ball straight back but his aim was only slightly less skewed than the goal-keeper's. Sunderland lost much of their threat when Quinn was forced off through injury and the United backlash was never far away. The first whiff of danger to Thomas Sorensen's goal came when Keane squared after an error by McCann but the centre was swept away by Craddock.

Keane, clearly frustrated by the lack of movement ahead of him, crackled at his strikers and as if to prove a point, he put himself at the heart of the most fluid move of the half. With 35 minutes gone, Scholes provided and Keane laid off right to Gary Neville. The pass was immediate, as was the threat, and Teddy Sheringham got his first chance of the evening with a beau-tifully directed back-heel which glanced across the face of goal.

Sunderland should have paid more heed to the warning, though they could not have legislated for the manner or the rapidity with which they conceded a goal a mere 26 seconds into the second half.

As an aimless ball was hit towards their box, Craddock was guilty of the most awful fresh-air attempt to clear. Cole pounced on the error and chipped his shot over Sorenson.

United celebrated but Schwarz and Michael Gray took their claims that Cole had used his hand to referee Graham Poll. Gray gestured violently at the official and was ordered off for foul and abusive language.

Barely 10 minutes had passed before two more followed him. Neville crossed and Cole challenged the goalkeeper before banging into Rae. Words were exchanged and foreheads met in macho, if facile, confrontation.

Referee Poll was only feet away and opted to take no chances. He sent both off, though their offence has more often been punished by a strong word this season.

Sheringham came close with a free header and Barthez stood his ground well when Kevin Kilbane shot but the spoils were destined for Manchester, both in this match and the season.