Sunderland 1 Utd 2

Federico Macheda climbed off the bench to snatch victory for the second time in a week as Manchester United clawed their way back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table. The 17-year-old Italian needed just seconds to claim three points for his side with a 76th-minute winner at Sunderland and send the reigning champions back above Liverpool, who had briefly headed them as a result of their 4-0 win over Blackburn.

His intervention could not have been more timely with the Black Cats having dragged themselves back into the game courtesy of Kenwyne Jones' 55th-minute equaliser, his first goal since February 7. United looked to be in complete control when Paul Scholes capped a dominant start by heading the visitors into a 19th-minute lead, but they allowed the Wearsiders back into the game in front of a partisan crowd of 45,408.