Manchester United eased some of the pressure on Ruben Amorim with a third-straight home win, this one a 2-0 defeat of Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.
MORE — Player ratings | Ruben Amorim reaction
The Red Devils seized control early and rarely looked back, as debutant goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept a clean sheet behind goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.
WATCH — Manchester United v Sunderland full match replay
Manchester United move onto 10 points, good for eighth place on the table and four points back of the current top four.
Sunderland remain a point above United on 11 in sixth place.
Manchester United, Sunderland fans get reality check
Many Sunderland fans would’ve been dreaming of a comfortable season after their brilliant start to the season and the Black Cats are more than capable of not just ensuring safety but perhaps avoiding intense relegation worry. But they’re also a new team that had gotten a bit of luck and now are without impressive Habib Diarra. Regis Le Bris is a good manager and the Black Cats feel like a side that will stay up, but the dream start was just that.
Man United’s reality check is a different kind, and it’s that the Red Devils are a better collection of talent than what’s indicated in their record. There are still questions at the back and plenty of either young, new, or young and new players in Ruben Amorim’s system, but this is a much better organized and prepared side than the one that struggled to adapt to a new system midseason last campaign. If the effort is there, the Red Devils will be above midtable for most of the season. If it all comes together, Europe is an option.
Mason Mount backs Ruben Amorim
Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount wasn’t asked to back Ruben Amorim, but mentioned the boss when asked about scoring in the win.
“You can see in the way the first half went we were sharp at the beginning, we started the game quick,” Mount said. “At home if we start well we can take control and score goals. In the second half it gets a bit loose and that’s something we’ll work on. We’re 100% behind the gaffer. We’ve had some results that hurt us — the team, the staff and the fans — but that was important today.”
What’s next?
The international break arrives before Man United head to Liverpool on Oct. 19, then welcome Brighton to Old Trafford.
Sunderland host Wolves at 10am ET on Oct. 18, then head to Chelsea a week later.
How to watch Manchester United vs Sunderland live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Stream via NBC.com
Manchester United vs Sunderland final score: 2-0
Mason Mount 8', Benjamin Sesko 31'
Manchester United vs Sunderland live updates — by Nick Mendola
Black Cats a bit brighter, Amorim makes another sub
Amorim will want to see renewed resolve from his men after Sunderland seize a little bit of momentum with about 18 minutes to go.
Mbeumo exits for Kobbie Mainoo.
Man United subs
Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha enter for Diogo Dalot and Mason Mount in the 64th minute.
Sunderland subs
Chemsdine Talbi, Eliezer Mayenda, and Andrew Brobbey head into the game for Masuaku, Traore, and Isidor.
2-0 Man United as we near the hour mark.
Halftime — Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland
Dominant, though not without a crack or two at the back.
Shots are 9-4 for United. Five of those efforts have found their way to Roefs, who has been spectacular despite conceding twice.
Now Amorim will need to see the full 90 minutes of focus he mentioned before the contest.
Sunderland penalty overturned
Benjamin Sesko extends his long right leg high into the air in a bid to deny Trai Hume a header.
He misses Hume, and the ball hits the Sunderland man’s head. Hume immediately grabs his head and Stuart Atwell thinks it was Sesko’s boot.
VAR asks Atwell to have a look, and the penalty will not stand. It’s a corner for Sunderland just before halftime, and it’s headed just wide by Ballard.
Lammens gets first moment(s)
Granit Xhaka tears into a hard but hopeful shot from 25 yards. Was it going wide? Unclear, and Senne Lammens has to dive to his left for a good save and a corner that eventually leads to a huge cross.
Lammens claims it before it can reach the forehead of Ballard.
Regis Le Bris tweaks his formation
Another defender enters the fray as big Daniel Ballard replaces winger Simon Adingra.
Likely to be a back three/five as rain pours down on Old Trafford.
Benjamin Sesko goal — Man United 2-0 Sunderland
Diogo Dalot’s long throw — you guessed it, from the United’s right side — is headed back by Nordi Mukiele, and Sesko is first to it.
Cool finish for 2-0.
And Roefs again!
Bruno picks out a shot from 18 yards and Roefs is at full extension to paw it off the frame.
Amad can’t head the rebound on frame.
The Red Devils should be up two or three.
Roefs again!
The Red Devils again his Sunderland’s left side, and Mbeumo now tries his luck.
Roefs again goes to his right to parry the shot.
Robin Roefs as usual
Amad Diallo drives the right side and cuts into the heart of the pitch in a similar manner to Mbeumo on the opener.
Amad decides to shoot, however, and Robin Roefs leaps to his right for a two-fisted parry.
Arthur Masuaku not enjoying life on the left side of Sunderland’s back four.
1-0 Man Utd, 22'.
Granit Xhaka shaken up
Omar Alderete and Granit Xhaka are both desperate to keep Mbeumo from reaching a loose ball at the back, and the former’s knee catches the latter in the head.
The referee calls for treatment, and Xhaka wants to re-enter but is being forced to speak with trainers. Black Cats down to 10 men for a moment or three.
Mason Mount goal — Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland
Bryan Mbeumo cuts in from the right and slams a cross toward Benjamin Sesko on the other side of the box.
Mount thinks its for him and takes it out of the air with his left, then slashing his next touch past Robin Roefs.
Amorim’s choice to start him over Matheus Cunha gets the check mark after eight minutes.
Amorim on goalkeeper switch
Senne Lammers will start because of “rotation,” according to Amorim.
It’s more likely that’s politeness, as the 23-year-old Belgium has now had time to adjust to his new club and may well be taking his first steps toward seizing the top spot from Altay Bayindir.
Ruben Amorim on what’s important
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained that his changes are opponent-specific, and says there will be plenty of changes during the game. He was asked about trying to make it three-straight home wins a and his answer feels telling:
“Winning is the only thing that can help us to go forward. We need to be really strong on details and understand that the game has 90 minutes. We are ready to cope with everything the other team is doing. We can fight through every situation, that is the most important thing. That is the thing we need to change from the last game.”
Manchester United lineup
Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Diallo, Mount, Mbeumo, Sesko
Sunderland lineup
Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Masuaku, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Traore, Adingra, Isidor
Manchester United vs Sunderland preview
Amorim’s men lost at Brentford last time out and almost appear to be refusing to build on positive results during the Amorim era. Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty that could’ve equalized against the Bees, for example.
Enter Sunderland, who are over-performing in the return to the Premier League. Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have lost just once and have two wins and two draws from their last four league outings.
But there are worries underneath the Black Cats’ 3W-2D-1L record and plus-3 goal differential. Sunderland’s four conceded goals are 3.13 better than their 7.13 expected goals against total.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Noussair Mazraoui (unspecified), Lisandro Martinez (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Tyrell Malacia (fitness) Amad Diallo (personal)
Sunderland team news, focus
OUT: Habib Diarra (groin), Reinildo (suspension) Romaine Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Aji Alese (shoulder)
Manchester United vs Sunderland prediction
Predicting Manchester United matches is infuriating because so many factors say they should perform well and... then there’s the actual game. Man United are already 5.04 goals behind their xG production and 1.44 worse than xGA. They are out-attempting opponents 68-35 in open play. This should be straight-forward. Let’s add to our eventual frustration by buying into Amorim for Week 7. Manchester United 3-1 Sunderland.
