Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia was pleased with his players after their defeat to Manchester United.

He said: "We have got six games and we have got to do the same as we did today for those next six games.

"They haven't done it for the last three or four games, but today I thought they were excellent.

"The next six games are going to be really difficult and really hard. There are going to be a lot of changes here, there and everywhere regarding the table."

It was perhaps significant that Jones ended a personal goal drought stretching back to February 7 on an afternoon when he and Djibril Cisse caused problems for the first time in weeks.

Sbragia said: "The second goal, whether he [Macheda] knows about it or not is immaterial.

"Overall, the players gave me everything I wanted and the attitude was good.

"The front two did very well today in the game. Everything we asked for, they delivered."