Manchester United relied on a first-half own goal by Titus Bramble to beat Sunderland 1-0 on Saturday, securing a seventh straight Premier League win to inch the runaway leaders closer to a 20th English title.
Demba Ba’s debut double helped Chelsea make a perfect start to its FA Cup defense with a 5-1 rout of Southampton in the third round, while Robin van Persie scored an injury-time equalizer for Manchester United to finish 2-2 at West Ham and earn a replay.
After spurning Manchester City’s advances in the offseason, Robin van Persie scored the goal that ended the champions’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season and took Manchester United six points clear of its neighbor on Sunday.
