Giggs’s United beaten, Fullham relegated

Louis van Gaal was served a timely reminder of the size of the re-building job facing the club’s next manager as Seb Larsson’s first-half goal secured Sunderland a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The result relegated Cardiff and Fulham while drastically improving Sunderland’s survival chances and leaving United with a mountain to climb if they are to finish sixth in the Premier League and secure Europa League football next season. 

Defeat also handed caretaker Ryan Giggs a harsh lesson in the unpredictable world of management and suggested his predecessor David Moyes may not have been solely to blame for the club’s painfully obvious current flaws. The result also meant United, who are expected to appoint van Gaal as their new boss next week, had lost seven home league games in a season for the first time since the 1973/74 campaign, which ended with their relegation from the old first division. 

By contrast Gus Poyet’s Sunderland side continued an extraordinary run which had brought a draw at Manchester City and victory at Chelsea in recent weeks after Larsson volleyed home on the half hou. 

Victory left the north-east side three points above the relegation zone with two games remaining. Connor Wickham, the goalscoring hero of Sunderland’s charge to safety, set up the goal with strong play at the right-hand corner flag and a cross which beat Darren Fletcher on its way to Larsson, who had slipped his marker Michael Carrick. 

The Sunderland midfielder then produced a perfect 12-yard volley which flew past the diving David de Gea into the bottom left-hand corner. It was a stunning development after the enthusiasm Giggs enjoyed since taking over from Moyes and winning his opening game 4-0 over Norwich last week.