For 90 minutes, Sunderland – under acting manager Ricky Sbragia – played with 10 men firmly behind the ball and hoped a solid rearguard performance would land them an unlikely point away to the champions.
And for 90 minutes, their spoiling tactics worked as United were left frustrated by the sheer numbers stacked against them in the Sunderland defence and their own players’ inability to find the back of the net.
But in the first minute of time added on, Michael Carrick’s long-range shot struck an upright and rebounded straight to Vidic, who gleefully slotted home to hand United all three points right at the death.
Vidic – and the vast majority of those inside Old Trafford – breathed a huge sigh of relief, with few underestimating the importance of the goal which could yet prove crucial in the title race.
With Liverpool and Chelsea winning earlier in the day, victory was imperative for United if they were to remain within striking distance of their main title rivals.
Mission accomplished: United remain five points behind Chelsea and six adrift of leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand on both.
Over the years United have made late goals their trademark and, even if in recent times Arsenal and Liverpool have rather taken over their mantle as kings of the dramatic finales, Vidic proved Alex Ferguson’s side still have it in them.
It was nothing less than United deserved, while few could complain that Sunderland left empty handed.
The visitors showed little to no desire to score, preferring instead to take their chance by sitting deep in their own half and relying on their defence to hold out for a point.
That substitute Kenwyne Jones won their first corner of the game in final minute – an event which brought an excited roar from the visiting support – spoke volumes for their ambition.
Ferguson – who was forced to observe the game from the directors’ box as a result of his touchline ban – opted to overlook midweek hat-trick hero Carlos Tevez in favour of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in an unchanged side to the one which won the Manchester derby a week earlier.
Both were involved in early chances for United, Berbatov being denied by Marton Fulop on 12 minutes before Rooney fired a well-worked free-kick goalwards which the Bulgarian helped on its way soon after. Fulop again had to be alert to keep it out.
But it was not until after the break that United really began to threaten the Sunderland goal, as a breakthrough increasingly seemed just around the corner.
Darren Fletcher, Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo – who was forced off clutching his ribs on 68 minutes – all went close before the inevitable siege during the final 20 minutes began.
Ryan Giggs lashed a volley wide, Berbatov headed over and Tevez – on since the 58th minute – dragged wide from a similar position to where he netted his third in midweek.
Vidic headed straight at Fulop, Anderson was foiled by a brilliantly timed Teemu Tainio tackle and Carrick dragged another shot wide of the mark as time ran out before Vidic finally made the hosts’ utter domination count – and kept United very much in the hunt for the title.
Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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