Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says they made yesterday's 1-0 win over Sunderland difficult for themselves.

Nani's 28th-minute goal was enough to claim all three points on an afternoon when United could have won much more comfortably.

Dimitar Berbatov missed a trio of glorious chances although Sunderland had their own opportunities before the break when John Mensah and Lorik Cana both headed wide and Steed Malbranque saw a well-struck drive turned over by Edwin van der Sar.

However, Craig Gordon was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and Michael Turner had to hack a 78th-minute shot from substitute Michael Carrick off the line.

Ferguson added: "We were just careless in our finishing, I suppose. It looked that way. We had great chances.

"They probably felt they were comfortable but we got there, that's the important thing, three points.

"A 1-0 victory away from home is always a good result."