Sunderland may've ended Manchester United's hopes on the day their relegation was confirmed.
Needing a win to hold off the drop, Sunderland wasted first-half chances through Liam Lawrence and Jon Stead.
United improved after the break, but Kelvin Davis was in inspired form.
The Sunderland keeper made magnificent saves from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave the hosts six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
That gap will be nine points if the Blues win their game in hand against Bolton on Saturday, and with only four games remaining, that will surely end United's slim title hopes.
Afterwards, a disappointed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "With young players, you don't get the consistency.
"Tonight when we expected the most, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo had perhaps their worst game of the season.
"We need a miracle now obviously, but Chelsea still have three difficult away games and we have to go to Stamford Bridge and win. We can't give up."
Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball also said: "The way they played was magnificent, we didn't come to make up the numbers, we came to have a go.
"Every player was superb and there were opportunities for us to have won.
"We have to build on that, we've got five massive games and we need to build for the future. The main thing now is to prepare right for Monday against Newcastle."
Needing a win to hold off the drop, Sunderland wasted first-half chances through Liam Lawrence and Jon Stead.
United improved after the break, but Kelvin Davis was in inspired form.
The Sunderland keeper made magnificent saves from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave the hosts six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
That gap will be nine points if the Blues win their game in hand against Bolton on Saturday, and with only four games remaining, that will surely end United's slim title hopes.
Afterwards, a disappointed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "With young players, you don't get the consistency.
"Tonight when we expected the most, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo had perhaps their worst game of the season.
"We need a miracle now obviously, but Chelsea still have three difficult away games and we have to go to Stamford Bridge and win. We can't give up."
Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball also said: "The way they played was magnificent, we didn't come to make up the numbers, we came to have a go.
"Every player was superb and there were opportunities for us to have won.
"We have to build on that, we've got five massive games and we need to build for the future. The main thing now is to prepare right for Monday against Newcastle."
