All the footprints you've ever left and fear expecting ahead (Sunderland)

A should-be-a-straight-forward-victory-against-a-lesser-team-at-home game today. As a warning against complacency let us cast our mind back to April 2006:

Manchester United's title dream and Sunderland's Premiership life were snuffed out by a sensational goalless draw at Old Trafford.

If it is probable Sunderland will officially go down as the worst side the top flight has seen since the Premier League was launched in 1992, at least they will also be able to boast one of the most amazing results it has ever seen too.

After nine successive wins, which had raised genuine belief among United followers they could at least push Chelsea to the wire, the Red Devils championship charge came to a sorry end because of their failure to score against a team who have conceded an average of almost two a game throughout the season.

And more, including some criticism of Ronaldo that we grew so accustomed to:

It is an often-repeated phrase that there are no easy games in the Premiership yet never in his worst nightmares could Ferguson have envisaged that his team's title hopes would collapse against such a rank bad side.

How the Sunderland fans who gloried in their side's monumental performance must have wished their team had played with the same spirit, enthusiasm and bravado throughout a torrid campaign.

In fairness, United hardly helped themselves and for all Ferguson's pre-match claims there would be no complacency, that is exactly how it seemed judging by the number of ill-advised flicks his team produced in the opening half-hour in particular.

Predictably, Ronaldo was the worst culprit. Every time the ball reached the Portugal winger, he appeared to look upon it as a chance to experiment.

Having said that, the form we're in I'm still expecting an easy(ish) win, some good football played, and a few goals. Prediction 3-0.

To finish - famous Sunderland band The Futureheads and their quality cover of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" -