Sunderland put up a battling display as they lost to new premier league leaders Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Two goals within a minute either side of half-time saw the Black Cats suffer their fifth defeat of the season as they still search for their first win of the new campaign. Some neat play from United down the left saw Juan Mata turn the ball across the face of the goal, with Memphis Depay getting ahead of Billy Jones to tap into the net in the fourth minute of added time. 38 seconds after the restart and it was two, Wayne Rooney was on hand to provide a similar tap-in after good work down the left again, this time from the superb Anthony Martial. Sunderland were resolute and performed better than in recent weeks but lacked a cutting edge. Juan Mata added a late third after some good work down the right from Ashley Young. Here is how the Black Cats player rated today at Old Trafford.
Costel Pantilimon – 7
The Romanian couldn’t do an awful lot with either goal and was forced into some fine saves this afternoon, his kicking was a bit better today too.
Billy Jones – 4
Struggled to cope with the lively Depay all afternoon and was caught on his heels for the opening goal and failed to close down the cross from Ashley Young for the third. Poor game from the former West Brom man who was bizarrely named as one of Sunderland’s best players this week by Advocaat.
John O’Shea – 6
Did okay today but when your up against Rooney and Martial you are always going to be up against it.
Younes Kaboul – 5
Kaboul had a tough day at the office but is certainly better alongside O’Shea. Could be partially to blame for the second goal, with Martial outpacing the Frenchman in the area.
Patrick Van Aanholt – 4
Gave Mata too much time for the third goal, whilst the opening two goals came down his left-hand side. Concentration levels were poor all afternoon and surely his time is now up in the first-team?
Yann M’Vila – 6
Tough game for M’Vila who never really got going. He has undoubted quality, but today was not the Frenchmans day.
Lee Cattermole – 7 (Man of the Match)
That is more like it from Cattermole. He was superb in the first half, breaking up play and distributing it well. He faded as the game went on, but this is more like the Cattermole we need in our struggling team.
Ola Toivonen – 4
I almost forgot to put him in this article, that’s how anonymous the Swede was today.
Adam Johnson – 3
What on earth was that Johnson? Awful game from the winger, he was outmuscled and outfought in every department and was replaced at half-time.
Jeremain Lens – 5
Tried to be positive again but lacked the cutting edge. Should have squared the ball to Borini in the first half instead of selfishly shooting, which would have put the Black Cats 1-0 up.
Fabio Borini – 6
Borini was a handful up front in the first half and played well. When he was moved out wide he struggled and is still lacking match fitness.
Substitutes:
Steven Fletcher – 5
Didn’t do an awful lot when brought on at half-time. Keeps blowing his chances to shine in the team, which may be coming around less and less.
Seb Larsson – 5
Neither of Dick’s substitutions worked out today, with Larsson failing to influence the game.
