Ruben Amorim saw his team win comfortably after a week where he admitted he was under pressure after poor results, and growing speculation that a defeat at Old Trafford could have left him facing the sack.
Benjamin Sesko scored his first home goal after Mason Mount had also vindicated the manager’s selection with an early opener. In all, Amorim could be pleased with the outcome of the game, although it could be said that opposing manager Régis Le Bris made life easy for the hosts until a tactical switch towards the end of the first half made the match more even.
By then, the game was beyond the Black Cats. United had enjoyed the space they don’t usually find, with many flowing efforts – Amad and Mbeumo combined well early on to create an opening for Mount, who took a clever first touch and caressed the ball past Robin Roefs.
Roefs then became the man of the half, making saves from Amad and Mbuemo in similar scenarios and then making an even better stop to deny Bruno Fernandes and tip the ball on to the post.
In the 31st minute, United had their second – a long throw by Dalot, taking advantage of the poor conditions, was not dealt with by the Sunderland defence, and Sesko reacted quickly to tap in.
By that point, Le Bris had seen enough and packed his defence. The result was a brighter end to the half from his team – Xhaka saw an effort saved by debutant goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and then just before the break Sunderland were bizarrely awarded a penalty when Trai Hume collapsed holding his face. The assistant referee flagged for a foul by Sesko – but replays showed that Hume was hit by the football.
Another incident saw Sunderland appealing for a penalty early in the second half when Traore went down under a challenge with Lammens and Fernandes – but the referee deemed it to be simulation, and booked the visiting player.
There was little else of note from the game – Cunha, on the bench as he eases his way back after a hamstring injury, gave a bright cameo, and Kobbie Mainoo was once more a selected substitute.
Lammens made another smart stop in injury time as United saw out the game in some ease to earn their first clean sheet of the season. That can be seen as progress, although as ever, the key to that being so is in consistency. So far that has not been a feature of Ruben Amorim’s era. If it can be now, starting with the visit to an out-of-sorts Liverpool after the international break, he may be able to galvanise some flagging – if still audible – faith from the support.
Ratings : Lammens 7, Yoro 7, De Ligt 7, Shaw 6, Amad 8, Casemiro 6, Fernandes 7, Dalot 6, Mbeumo 7, Mount 7, Sesko 7
Subs : Dorgu 6, Cunha 7, Mainoo, Maguire, Ugarte
