Fergie's aim: humiliate City

Focused ... Sir Alex Ferguson won't take his foot off the gas. Source: Andrew Yates / AFP

If there was ever a time for Manchester United's foot to come off the pedal, this weekend's trip to Wearside to face Sunderland appears to be it.

Comfortably sitting 15 points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League, an FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea just two days later and a host of players returning from gruelling World Cup Qualifiers - this clash hardly figures as a priority. 

But just as Sunderland’s hope that Manchester United’s focus may be elsewhere ahead of this weekend’s clash at the Stadium Light, they were quashed. Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that the relentless drive that led Manchester City keeper Joe Hart to describe United’s title push as ruthless as a “killing machine” would not be given an afternoon off. Far from it. In fact, all stops are being pulled out to ensure the players are at their best for the Sunderland trip. 

"We’re making arrangements for some players to fly home by privately hired jet after their [International] matches, to make sure they get home as quickly and smoothly as possible," the United boss said. "Private planes are going to cost the club an awful lot of money, but it is something we feel we have to do."

The 15-point lead they hold over their nearest rivals City appears to suggest otherwise but the hurt Ferguson endured when United surrendered the title to their ‘noisy neighbours’ last season seems to have cut him deep.

Regaining it appears to be not enough for Ferguson; City must be humiliated with every match being treated as an opportunity to exorcise the pain of seeing their bitter rivals crowned champions. 

As Sunderland prepare for the visit of the champions-elect, the pace of United’s rehabilitation appears to show no sign of waning. Ominously for the Black Cats it seems to be gathering pace, as their five wins in a row in the league proves. 

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	29	24	2	3	38	74
2	Man City	29	17	8	4	25	59
3	Chelsea	29	16	7	6	28	55
4	Tottenham	30	16	6	8	14	54
5	Arsenal	29	14	8	7	23	50
6	Everton	29	12	12	5	11	48
7	Liverpool	30	12	9	9	18	45
8	West Brom	30	13	5	12	2	44
9	Swansea	30	10	10	10	2	40
10	Fulham	29	9	9	11	-4	36
11	Stoke	30	7	13	10	-8	34
12	Norwich	30	7	13	10	-18	34
13	Newcastle	30	9	6	15	-11	33
14	West Ham	29	9	6	14	-11	33
15	Sunderland	30	7	10	13	-9	31
16	Southampton	30	7	10	13	-10	31
17	Aston Villa	30	7	9	14	-25	30
18	Wigan	29	7	6	16	-21	27
19	Reading	30	5	8	17	-22	23
20	QPR	30	4	11	15	-22	23

Whilst United have stormed ahead at the top of the EPL, Sunderland’s horror run of no wins in their last seven matches has left them just four points above the relegation zone. Their manager Martin O’Neill’s constant assertion that he is in charge of a top-six club has been evident only in the transfer market, with expensive additions such as Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher.

Their chief problem has been goals. Only Norwich, QPR and Aston Villa have scored less goals at home this season. The $17 million purchase of Fletcher from Wolves was meant to provide the club with goals but despite a bright start the Scotland striker has fallen short of expectations, scoring 10 goals in the league. 

The chief reason for their lack of goals appears to be their inability to create chances. In their most recent Premier League match, Sunderland struggled to unlock the Norwich defence despite the Canaries being reduced to ten men in the first half and had to settle for 1-1 draw. 

"My main concern was the chances. We should have created a lot more chances and were unable to do that," O’Neill said after the match.

His worries less than a week later would only be added to when Fletcher was stretched off for Scotland after just 90 seconds against Wales with an injury that rules him out for the rest of the season. 

With Manchester United scoring over two goals on average away from home this season, the threat of Fletcher would have been vital for a Sunderland side desperate to take anything out this weekend’s match. In his absence O’Neill will be forced to rely on a playing group whose next highest scorer is Craig Gardner, who has scored just five times.

In contrast United have two players well into double figures with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie having 32 goals between them, just one less than the total Sunderland have scored this campaign. 

When United players board their private jets bound for Manchester, the message from Ferguson will be loud and clear - winning the title is not enough. The insatiable Scot wants more and as history shows he usually gets what he wants. For O’Neill and Sunderland that is proving to be far more difficult this season. 

Follow me on Twitter @beaubusch

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