A damp squib on Wearside marked the end of a week that began with Manchester United defeating Liverpool to secure Champions League qualifying and saw captain Bruno Fernandes named Footballer of the Year.
Under Michael Carrick, United hasn’t had many poor games, but this was one of them as a team with five changes from the previous weekend struggled against a determined Sunderland outfit that were frustrated by custodian Senne Lammens and hit the post through Brian Brobbey.
In fact, United didn’t get a single shot on goal until the third minute of injury time, when Robin Roefs denied Matheus Cunha’s attempt at close range. This is a terrible indictment of a team that still has a wealth of expensive attacking skill.
Regardless of how the Old Trafford management selects their permanent head coach at the end of the season, the outcome and performance might not have a significant impact on Carrick’s future in the current situation. However, it didn’t reflect well on some of the peripheral players who were given the opportunity but chose not to accept it.
The only bright spot for United was that they did not lose, and after Liverpool’s draw with Chelsea at home earlier in the day, a point puts them one spot closer to third place in the Premier League.
Carrick made two changes: Casemiro was absent due to a small knock that the head coach described as “nothing major,” while Benjamin Sesko was out due to a shin ailment. It is not anticipated to prevent him from playing his final game at Old Trafford next weekend against Nottingham Forest.
Under Michael Carrick, Manchester United’s performance against an outstanding Sunderland was among their worst.
Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee both had infrequent starts but were unable to have much of an effect. Diogo Dalot was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo was called up against his former team when Ayden Heaven and Bryan Mbeumo withdrew, and Lisandro Martinez returned from suspension.
Lutsharel Geertruida replaced Dan Ballard, who, like Martinez, had been controversially sent out for hair-pulling, as Regis Le Bris made one change for Sunderland from their draw at Wolves last weekend.
United appeared disorganised in the first half and were lucky that the game was goalless at halftime, which may not come as a surprise considering the number of substitutions.
In the challenging rainy conditions, Sunderland’s high press caused them problems throughout, and the Black Cats had several opportunities to demonstrate their superiority.
Chemsdine Talbi had already curled an attempt just wide in the sixth minute, but the greatest of them was lost to Noah Sidiki. Enzo Le Fee’s brilliant first-time throughball sent Sidiki clear, but Lammens, who has been United’s unquestioned No. 1 since making his debut against Sunderland at Old Trafford in October, came out to make a crucial save.
Before halftime, Talbi had a goalbound attempt that was deflected wide by Mount, and the Belgian valiantly dived down at the feet of Brobbey to smother after the Dutchman escaped Martinez at a free kick.
The most talked-about moment of the half was when Le Fee attempted to play the ball into the United box and it struck Diallo’s outstretched arm. This was Le Fee’s first appearance at the Stadium of Light since he was a standout player on loan here in the 2022–2023 season.
Given that Stuart Attwell was in charge against Bournemouth last month and awarded Carrick’s team a penalty kick for a foul on Matheus Cunha but refused them a second penalty for a similar challenge on Diallo, it was all the more intriguing that he declined Sunderland’s requests for a penalty.
Mason Mount (right) and other fringe players had an opportunity but were unable to make an impression.
It was not his choice to give Bournemouth a late penalty kick and dismiss Harry Maguire that led to United’s subsequent protest to the Premier League. In January, Attwell also shocked United by disallowing a Martinez goal that the Key Match Incidents Panel subsequently determined should have been allowed.
On the few instances that United managed to leave their own half, they did pose a threat, but Zirkzee headed over from Cunha’s cross and Diallo curled wide when Fernandes squared a free kick to him.
For the first time in the Premier League this season, United failed to have a shot on goal prior to halftime, which spoke a lot about their performance.
After halftime, a similar pattern emerged, and Mount and Zirkzee’s needless bookings for fouls on Omar Alderete summed up United’s annoyance. After Kobbie Mainoo mishandled a pass to him, Zirkzee became irate.
Shortly after the hour mark, Lammens saved United once more by denying Brobbey a one-on-one after Le Fee had put him in. In an attempt to boost his team’s energy, Carrick sent in Patrick Dorgu in place of the ineffective Zirkzee.
It failed, and when Brobbey’s effort from just inside the box beat Lammens and bounced past the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, he was just inches away from giving Sunderland a well-earned lead. In a game that will never be remembered, it was a little of luck that United hardly deserved.
SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Hume 6 (Mayenda 90), Le Fee 7.5, Talbi 6 (Angula 79, 6), Brobbey 7; Roefs 6.5; Mukiele 6.5, Geertruida 6, Alderete 7, Reinildo 6.5; Xhaka 7, Sadiki 7.
Ellborg, Cirkins, Rigg, O’Nien, Isidor, Diarra, and Bi were not used as substitutes.
Supervisor: Regis Le Bris 7
Lammens 7; Mazraoui 6, Maguire 6.5, Martinez 6.5, Shaw 6; Mainoo 6, Mount 5; Diallo 5 (Mbeumo 75, 6), Fernandes 5.5, Cunha 5; Zirkzee 4 (Dorgu 65, 6) MAN UTD (4-2-3-1).
Bayindir, Dalot, Malacia, Heaven, Yoro, J Fletcher, and T Fletcher were not used as substitutes.
Mount, Zirkzee, and Cunha are reserved.
Michael Carrick, head coach, 5.5
Referee: Stuart Attwell, six
Att: 47,033
