DECEMBER 2000 SPORT HEADLINES

Wednesday, January 31, 2001 - Web posted at 8:47:30 AM GMT

Man Utd seek 16 point lead

LONDON - Manchester United's surprise elimination has left the FA Cup wide open.

But it has also made the league title race even more of a certainty - and the Reds could be 16 points clear by tonight.

After the weekend's cup shocks, the Premier League is back with two rounds of games and Manchester United, 13 points clear, visits second place Sunderland today.

A victory at the Stadium of Light will put a smile back on the face of United manager Alex Ferguson, who was blaming everything and everyone for his team's FA Cup 1-0 loss at home to West Ham on Sunday.

Ferguson was furious that the use of Old Trafford for rugby matches had ruined the playing surface, that the referee should have played more injury time and that his players were at fault for trying to play matchwinner Paolo Di Canio offside.

That defeat, United's first at home in the cup since 1992, means that Ferguson's team cannot repeat the triple triumph of two seasons ago when it won the Champions Cup, Premier League and FA Cup.

The good news for United is that it no longer has the distraction of the FA Cup and that could make it a stronger bet to win the other two titles.

Sunderland has the chance to alter that today and cut the lead to 10 points.

Peter Reid's team, promoted back to the top flight just two seasons ago, has climbed above bigger clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Leeds to second place.

If it stays there, it will make its debut in the Champions Cup next season.

While Manchester United went out, Sunderland made it to the last 16 of the cup by edging Ipswich 1-0 even without lanky Irish striker Niall Quinn, who was rested for the game against the Reds.

Quinn will partner top scorer Kevin Phillips in a strikeforce that likely will cause plenty of problems for Jaap Stam and his United defensive colleagues.

While the Sunderland attack virtually picks itself, Ferguson has to decide who to field out of a choice of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

All four were on the field in the final stages against the Hammers but failed to score.

By the time tonight's game kicks off, Sunderland likely will be back to third.

Arsenal hosted last place Bradford last night and was expected to gain three points to leapfrog Reid's team.

Yesterday's other game was between is Charlton and Derby, but most of the other teams are in action tonight.

Fourth-place Liverpool should profit from a visit to second-from-last Manchester City, while next-to-last Coventry visits a Leeds team which has lost six league and cup games at home, including Saturday's 2-0 loss to Liverpool.

Humiliated by a 3-0 loss at home to division one neighbour Tranmere in the cup on Saturday, Everton hosts Middlesbrough, which is climbing steadily with Terry Venables in charge as first team coach.

West Ham aims to follow up its thrilling victory at Old Trafford by beating Tottenham at home, while Chelsea take on Newcastle and Southampton play Leicester.

Ipswich bids to reach the League Cup final against Liverpool by avoiding defeat at division one Birmingham.

George Burley's team managed only a 1-0 victory in the first leg and faces a Blues team which surprisingly won 1-0 at division one leader Fulham on Saturday.

- Nampa-Sapa-AP

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