Man Utd v Sunderland
Wayne Rooney ended a 11-game goal drought in the Premier League
26 September 2015 Last updated at 17:48
Manchester United moved above rivals Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win over struggling Sunderland.
After a subdued start, Memphis Depay scored his fourth goal of the season by tucking in from Juan Mata's cut-back.
United doubled the lead 40 seconds after the break as Wayne Rooney bundled home from close range to end an 11-game scoring drought in the Premier League.
Mata then converted Ashley Young's cross as Sunderland stayed bottom.
Until Depay slid in the opener in first-half stoppage time, the hosts looked ponderous in attack but once they went 2-0 up after good work from Anthony Martial, Sunderland had little to offer in response.
Rooney's fifth goal of the season took him level with Denis Law as United's joint-third leading league scorer with 171, and ended his longest barren spell in the Premier League which stretched to 1,000 minutes.
David De Gea was rarely troubled but made good saves from Jeremain Lens and Patrick van Aanholt, with United having conceded just once in the league at home this season.
Follow all the reaction to Saturday's Premier League games
Relive Manchester United's win over Sunderland
United stutter to the top
This victory was another fillip for United boss Louis van Gaal, who has been questioned about a lack of incisiveness in United's play this season. His side now top the Premier League after Manchester City's defeat by Tottenham earlier on Saturday.
Despite rarely being tested by Sunderland, the hosts struggled to open up Dick Advocaat's side in a lacklustre first period, with the game turning in the two minutes either side of the break.
That allowed the likes of Rooney and Mata more space to influence the game, but much of United's endeavour relied on the pace and trickery of Martial and Depay, who, at times, bullied the Sunderland backline.
There is a growing theme to United's performances; they may not be thrilling but they are proving hard to beat. The Red Devils lead Manchester City by a point as they target their first Premier League title since 2013.
Rooney on an upward curve
Memphis Depay's goal was his first in the Premier League
Rooney does not look back to his best, but after scoring in the League Cup win over Ipswich in midweek, he showed his goalscoring prowess remains a vital weapon for United. There were signs he is forming a good partnership with Martial.
Although his Premier League drought stretched back to April last season, he was quick to gamble at the near post when Martial caused havoc in the Sunderland defence, scoring his seventh goal of the season for club and country.
Rooney looks more suited to the number 10 role behind lone striker Martial, who has scored four goals in his opening four games for the club.
And with the teenager's pace and strength creating space ahead of him, Rooney could yet find the sort of form he did playing behind Robin van Persie in the 2012-2013 title-winning season.
Sunderland's woes continue
Advocaat, who played alongside Van Gaal for Sparta Rotterdam in the 1980s, had lost only once to his friend in their 10 previous meetings, and for much of the first half it looked as though he might extend that record.
Having seen his team concede 10 of their 13 league goals in the first half of matches, Advocaat set up the Black Cats to defend, and they were agonisingly close to going into the break at 0-0.
But Depay's strike broke their resolve and Rooney's goal seemed to destroy any confidence that may have remained.
Although De Gea was called into action on a few occasions, Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole lacked any meaningful support as he made an aggressive return to the side.
Defeat leaves Sunderland still searching for their first league win of the season, with games against West Ham and West Brom next before they face arch-rivals and fellow strugglers Newcastle on 25 October.
Man of the match: Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial set up Wayne Rooney's goal and was a menace to the Sunderland defence
Manager reaction
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "It's a nice feeling to be top of the table. It's the first time in my period so I'm happy. It's always difficult when you play against a team who is only defending and counting on the counter attack. You have to be aware and my defence was very good.
"I was very happy with the goal in extra time because they punished themselves. They were always wasting time and the referee was not reacting to that. A goal is the biggest influence in a game and I changed my approach at half-time because of that."
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat: "The first half we did well, organisation wise, but the problem was they scored one minute before half-time and one minute after half-time. United were the better side but they didn't create a lot of chances. It's a shame we gave that goal away in the first half because it made things different in the second half."
Stats you need to know
- Van Gaal recorded his first win in nine games against a side managed by Advocaat.
- Only two players - Bobby Charlton (199) and Jack Rowley (182) - have more league goals for Man Utd than Rooney (171).
- Mata has either scored or assisted in five of his past six Premier League appearances (four assists, two goals).
- After keeping three consecutive clean sheets in May, the Black Cats have conceded in each of their past eight Premier League matches.
- The Black Cats are now on a 10-game winless streak in the Premier League (D4 L6); the longest current run in the competition.
What next for Manchester United?
Van Gaal will hope a third consecutive victory can boost their Champions League hopes when they host Wolfsburg on Wednesday, having lost their opener against PSV Eindhoven. United then travel to Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League, either side of the international break.
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)
Manchester United
- 01 de Gea
- 25 A Valencia
- 12 Smalling
- 17 Blind (Jones - 74' )
- 36 Darmian
- 16 Carrick (Schweinsteiger - 68' )
- 28 Schneiderlin
- 08 Mata
- 10 Rooney
- 07 Depay (Young - 77' )
- 09 Martial
Substitutes
- 04 Jones
- 18 Young
- 20 Romero
- 21 Herrera
- 27 Fellaini
- 31 Schweinsteiger
- 44 Pereira
Sunderland
- 01 Pantilimon
- 02 Jones Booked
- 16 O'Shea
- 15 Kaboul
- 03 van Aanholt
- 06 Cattermole Booked
- 11 Johnson Booked (Fletcher - 45' )
- 21 M'Vila
- 20 Toivonen (Larsson - 70' )
- 17 Lens
- 09 Borini
Substitutes
- 07 Larsson
- 14 Jordi Gómez
- 18 Defoe
- 22 Coates
- 24 Yedlin
- 25 Mannone
- 26 Fletcher
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Manchester United 3, Sunderland 0.
90:00 +4:06 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Sunderland 0.
90:00 +3:38Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).
90:00 +3:38Younes Kaboul (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:26Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:26Foul by Jeremain Lens (Sunderland).
90:00 +1:41Attempt blocked. Jeremain Lens (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yann M'Vila.
89:28 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester United 3, Sunderland 0. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
88:19Attempt missed. Yann M'Vila (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson.
87:43Foul by Phil Jones (Manchester United).
87:43Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
87:21Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Young with a cross.
86:29Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86:29Foul by Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland).
85:27Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85:27Foul by Jeremain Lens (Sunderland).
84:09 BookingBooking Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84:07Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84:07Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).
83:44Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
Jeremain Lens (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:14Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:14Foul by Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland).
80:19Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Patrick van Aanholt.
77:28Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Costel Pantilimon.
77:26Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
76:34 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester United. Ashley Young replaces Memphis Depay.
73:06 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester United. Phil Jones replaces Daley Blind.
71:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
70:15Delay in match Daley Blind (Manchester United) because of an injury.
69:45 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Sunderland. Sebastian Larsson replaces Ola Toivonen.
69:08Attempt missed. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Antonio Valencia with a cross.
67:36 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester United. Bastian Schweinsteiger replaces Michael Carrick.
66:48Attempt saved. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
61:01Attempt saved. Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lee Cattermole.
59:58Chris Smalling (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
59:58Foul by Steven Fletcher (Sunderland).
54:51Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Matteo Darmian.
53:56Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Chris Smalling.
53:37Foul by Memphis Depay (Manchester United).
53:37Younes Kaboul (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
52:59Attempt saved. Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by John O'Shea.
52:57Attempt blocked. Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Yann M'Vila with a cross.
52:07Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United).
52:07Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
49:25 BookingBooking Billy Jones (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
49:23Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
49:23Foul by Billy Jones (Sunderland).
48:41Attempt blocked. Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeremain Lens.
47:00Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
47:00Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
46:45Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United).
46:45Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:39 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester United 2, Sunderland 0. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Anthony Martial with a cross.
45:00Second Half begins Manchester United 1, Sunderland 0.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Sunderland. Steven Fletcher replaces Adam Johnson.
45:00 +4:56 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Manchester United 1, Sunderland 0.
45:00 +3:20 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester United 1, Sunderland 0. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Juan Mata.
45:00 +1:25Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United).
45:00 +1:25Yann M'Vila (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +1:01Attempt blocked. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeremain Lens.
45:00Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00Foul by Adam Johnson (Sunderland).
44:02Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Memphis Depay.
41:45Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41:45Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
39:40Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Lee Cattermole.
39:08Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39:08Foul by Jeremain Lens (Sunderland).
38:24Attempt saved. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
37:33 BookingBooking Adam Johnson (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
37:28Hand ball by Adam Johnson (Sunderland).
36:20Delay over. They are ready to continue.
35:45Delay in match Anthony Martial (Manchester United) because of an injury.
34:05Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
34:05Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33:20Delay over. They are ready to continue.
32:08Delay in match Fabio Borini (Sunderland) because of an injury.
28:38Daley Blind (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:38Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
26:49Daley Blind (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
26:49Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
24:52Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Costel Pantilimon.
24:51Attempt saved. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
23:14Attempt saved. Jeremain Lens (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yann M'Vila.
19:35Delay over. They are ready to continue.
18:25Delay in match Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) because of an injury.
18:09Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
18:09Jeremain Lens (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16:18Attempt blocked. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
15:06Hand ball by Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland).
13:42Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Lee Cattermole.
13:41Attempt blocked. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Carrick.
13:32Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
13:32Foul by John O'Shea (Sunderland).
12:00Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
12:00Foul by John O'Shea (Sunderland).
10:21Attempt saved. John O'Shea (Sunderland) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Younes Kaboul with a cross.
9:40Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United).
9:40Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
7:13Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
7:13Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).
0:38Ola Toivonen (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:38Foul by Michael Carrick (Manchester United).
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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