Robin van Persie has hailed Manchester United as 'a team of winners' after the club saw off Sunderland to tighten their grip on the Premier League title.
Van Persie's first half effort, that deflected off Titus Bramble, was enough to give United a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light – temporarily putting them 18 points clear at the top of the table.
And for Dutch striker Van Persie, a summer arrival from Arsenal, the hard-fought result was exactly the type of performance that would be champions should be turning in.
'We got the three points, we knew it would be tough because Sunderland work hard and we had to dig in, but we deserved it,' he told Sky Sports.
'This team is full of winners, everyone knows what they have to do and it was never in doubt for me. I was confident we would win.'
United face Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday, but the club already have half an eye on the derby against Manchester City a week later.
A victory against their fierce rivals and current title holders would all but secure United's 20th league win, and midfielder Michael Carrick says the players are feeling closing than ever to reclaiming the trophy.
'We played some good football today, even if we didn’t get as many goalscoring opportunities as we’d have liked,' said Carrick.
'It was all about coming here and winning. We’re getting closer and it’s one game less. We have to keep going.'
Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Danny Rose of Sunderland (L) and Antonio Valencia of Manchester United in action. Sunderland's Danny Rose and Manchester United's Anton Valencia (right) battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, right, vies for the ball with Sunderland's Alfred N'Diaye, left, during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Manchester United's Robin Van Persie (second right) has his shot deflected into the goal by Sunderland's Titus Bramble (centre) for Manchester United's opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, foreground, vies for the ball with Sunderland's Alfred N'Diaye, during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Robin van Persie celebrates with Ashley Young (L) after Sunderland's Titus Bramble (not pictured) scored an own goal and the first goal for Manchester United. Sunderland player John O' Shea (r) challenges Antonio Valencia during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on March 30, 2013 in Sunderland, England. Sunderland's manager Martin O'Neill, ahead of his team's English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United, at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Robin van Persie (L) celebrates with Nemanja Vidic (C) and Alexander Buttner (R) after Sunderland's Titus Bramble (not pictured) scores an own goal and the first goal for Manchester United. Sunderland's French midfielder, Alfred N'Diaye (L) vies with Manchester United's Japanese midfielder, Shinji Kagawa (R) during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Manchester United at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England, on March 30, 2013. Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, right, vies for the ball with Sunderland'sTitus Bramble, during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Sunderland's Connor Whickham, left, vies for the ball with Manchester United's Michael Carrick, during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Manchester United's Robin Van Persie during the Barclays Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Manchester United's Alex Buttner slides in on Sunderland's Simon Mignolet during the Barclays Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Sunderland defender Titus Bramble (c, partially obscured) deflects Robin Van Persie's shot into his own net for the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on March 30, 2013 in Sunderland, England. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Sunderland's Danny Graham looks dejected. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 John O'Shea (L) and Titus Bramble of Sunderland remonstrate with referee Kevin Friend. Sunderland player Danny Graham (l) looks on as Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic (c) collides with his own goalkeeper, David De Gea during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on March 30, 2013 in Sunderland, England. Sunderland's English defender Danny Rose (R) vies with Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Manchester United at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, northeast England, on March 30, 2013. Manchester United won the game 1-0. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Sunderland's Irish midfielder, James McClean (L) vies with Manchester United's English midfielder Michael Carrick (R) during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Manchester United at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England, on March 30, 2013. Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light - 30/3/13 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (L) and Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill before the game.
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