Manchester United drew 0-0 with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday in what was certainly a game of football. The rainy weather and heavy pitch made for a bad day at the ballpark, but a defensive and rotated United team didn’t help.
Interim boss Michael Carrick was forced to shuffle the pack with Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko both out of action for the team. Amad made his return for the Reds despite some injury worry after the win over Liverpool last week, with Bryan Mbeumo starting the game
on the bench.
Manuel Ugarte also took a knock in training last week, so Mason Mount became an odd fit in the midfield pivot next to Kobbie Mainoo. Joshua Zirkzee got the start up top and Lisandro Martinez returned to the team at center back with Ayden Heaven pushed out. Noussair Mazraoui also got a start in place of Diogo Dalot.
The reshuffle did not yield fruitful results, to say the very least. Sunderland dominated the opening stages of the match with United unable to get the ball up the pitch consistently. The Reds didn’t register a shot on target in the first half, the first time they’ve failed to do so all season, but held out defensively to keep Sunderland out as well.
The second half didn’t see much more from either team, though United
By far the best chance for United came in stoppage time. Mason Mount made a nice one-time touch to set up Matheus Cunha to the left of goal, but the Brazilian forward failed to set himself up properly to fire a shot off. He would get the shot off on his next attempt, which he made himself on a clever turn into the box, but his shot was saved.
United got one final chance on a corner kick. Bruno Fernandes fired an inswinger that deflected out for Mbeumo to volley, but it was deflected out of bounds as the final whistle blew.
The first 0-0 draw of the season for United. A clean sheet but a poor display in possession on the road. The problems in the squad were also on full display, with Mount just a couple turned ankles away from starting in defensive midfield, and Sesko the only clear-cut center forward goal threat. Hopefully, the INEOS leadership were paying attention.
