Michael Carrick praised his Manchester United side for digging deep at times to secure a 0-0 draw against Sunderland in their Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light. The result saw the Red Devils maintain their top-four push, with Carrick acknowledging that the Black Cats had the better opportunities throughout.
'We had to dig deep at times, but we're pleased with the three points,' Carrick said after the game. 'Sunderland had some good chances, but we kept a clean sheet, which is vital at this stage of the season.'
The draw sees Manchester United remain in fourth place in the Premier League standings, with 49 points from 32 games. Sunderland, meanwhile, are 18th in the table with 25 points from 32 games.
Despite struggling to create clear-cut chances, Manchester United dominated possession and had 60% of the ball. However, the Black Cats had the better opportunities, with striker Jordan Henderson coming closest to scoring in the 61st minute, only to be denied by a fine save from Man Utd goalkeeper David de Gea.
'We had some decent chances, but we couldn't take them,' Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said after the game. 'We had the better of the game, but a 0-0 draw is what we deserve.'
The draw sees Manchester United face a crucial run of fixtures in the coming weeks, with games against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Sunderland, meanwhile, face a relegation battle and will be looking to pick up points against their fellow strugglers.