Sir Alex Ferguson (L) of Manchester United poses with Chief Executive David Gill on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his appointment as Manchester United manager ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford on November 5, 2011 in Manchester, England.

Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years as Manchester United manager as his team beat Sunderland 1-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday although it stayed five points behind Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League after City won 3-2 at Queens Park Rangers.

United's win, its fourth without conceding a goal since a 1-6 home loss to City last month, was overshadowed by Ferguson's silver anniversary occasion and was far from glittering, with the winner coming from former United defender Wes Brown, who put through his own net just before halftime.

But City stayed clear at the top when it won a five-goal thriller at Loftus Road in London, where Yaya Toure headed home the winner 16 minutes from time.

With 11 matches played City has 31 points, followed by United on 26, unbeaten Newcastle United on 25 and Chelsea on 22.

It was an emotional day at Old Trafford but the game will not live as long in the memory as the other events on the day, with United Chief Executive, David Gill, announcing the north stand had been renamed the "Sir Alex Ferguson Stand" and that a statue of the 69-year-old Scot was being commissioned to mark his achievements for the club since he took over on November 6, 1986.

Ferguson has brought 37 trophies to Old Trafford and, although they are not leading the title race now, the Red Devils still remain deep in the hunt for a 13th championship since 1993.

Ferguson admitted to Sky Sports afterwards: "I thought we were anxious but in the second half we improved, although the last 15 minutes was torture. I don't know whether it was down to the way Sunderland played, or the occasion; these emotional occasions, which it was for me today, sometimes get through to them."

Individual goal

City made it 10 wins from 11 matches at QPR, where the home side went ahead with a Jay Bothroyd header after 28 minutes. Edin Dzeko equalized with a well-taken individual goal 15 minutes later, before David Silva gave City the lead with another excellent strike early in the second half.

Heidar Helguson equalized for the home side after 69 minutes, but poor defending by the west London side allowed Toure to power in the winning header five minutes later.

Newcastle maintained its unbeaten league start to the season with a 2-1 win over Everton, with an own goal by Johnny Heitinga and a superbly struck dipping shot from Ryan Taylor putting it in control before Jack Rodwell pulled one back with a header just before halftime.

Chelsea, which won 1-0 at lowly Blackburn Rovers with a Frank Lampard header, remained fourth place on 22 points.

Elsewhere, it was: Arsenal 3, West Bromwich Albion 0; Aston Villa 3, Norwich City 2; and Liverpool 0, Swansea City 0.