Manchester United’s bid to qualify for Champions League suffered a huge blow as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light. A sublime goal from Wahbi Khazri and a David de Gea own goal was enough for the Wearsiders to disrupt Manchester United’s applecart.
Anthony Martial pulled one back for the visitors with a wonder goal but couldn’t help much to his team’s causes.
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The win brings Sunderland close to the safe zone and within a point’s distance from their neighbours Newcastle, who are 17th in the league table. The defeat has severely jeopardized Manchester United’s top four chase as they fail to close the gap on their rivals who play each other this weekend.
Sunderland
Vito Mannone – 7/10
The Italian stopper was decent enough to keep an underperforming Manchester United attack at bay.
De Andre Yedlin – 7/10
Spurs loanee was lethal in the second half when Sunderland turned the tide against their illustrious visitors.
John O’Shea – 8/10
The former United man rolled back the years as he bullied Wayne Rooney and Co. from the word go. He was a leader who led from the front. United fans would’ve wished that today he was playing on their side.
Lamine Koné – 8/10
If O’Shea was the brain then Kone was the brawn of this defensive axis. He was excellent to keep United’s in-form attack in check.
Patrick van Aanholt – 7/10
It was a good game for the Dutch full-back. He did well to keep Lingard in check and also did his fair share to contribute in the attacking third as well.
Jan Kirchhoff - 6/10
The German was unlucky to walk off due to injury as he was looking promising in the first 10 minutes.
Dame N'Doye – 7/10
He could’ve had a great game if he had been calm. Nonetheless, it was an effective performance from the Sunderland forward.
Lee Cattermole – 7/10
He was a beast in the second half where he bulldozed Manchester United’s midfield. He was instrumental in Sunderland’s second-half revival.
Yann M'Vila – 7/10
The Frenchman did his job with finesse as he absolutely trumped Juan Mata and Michael Carrick in the second half.
Wahbi Khazri – 9/10
He won the game for the Black Cats with his set-piece expertise. He was almost unplayable at times. It was a Man of the Match performance by the January signing.
Jermain Defoe – 7/10
He proved today why he is key to Sunderland’s quest for survival. He was unlucky to not score especially in the first half.
Substitutes:
Fabio Borini – 7/10
The Italian outcast did his job without any fuss and played an important role in the build-up to the second goal.
Jack Rodwell – 8/10
He was imperious to shield the Sunderland’s goal from United’s barrage. It was a brave performance from the Englishman as he quite noticeably saved a couple of shots for Mannone to deal with.
Ola Toivonen – N/A
Hardly had any impact on the game.
Manchester United
David de Gea – 7/10
The Spaniard did all he could to prevent the ball from nestling into the back of the net but his defenders let him down big time.
Matteo Darmian – 5/10
The right-back looked uncomfortable from the very first minute and later on hobbled off the pitch with an injury. He could’ve done better especially from attacking perspective.
Chris Smalling – 6/10
Smalling looked like his former self for the first time this season. Indecisive and timid.
Daley Blind – 6/10
It was a pedestrian performance from the Dutchman.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson – 6/10
The youngster had his burst of effervescence throughout the game but it wasn’t enough to inspire his side against a spirited Sunderland side.
Morgan Schneiderlin – 5/10
The Frenchman was poor to say the least, especially in the second half where he was bullied by the duo of M’Villa and Cattermole.
Michael Carrick – 5/10
United’s pass master looked distraught and was harried each and every second when he was in possession. It was probably his worst game of the season.
Jesse Lingard – 5/10
The hero at the Stamford Bridge was a total zero at the Stadium of Light. He was at his uninspiring best.
Juan Mata – 6/10
The Spaniard had no influence on this game whatsoever. Apart from a few pops at the goal from distance (which also led to United’s equaliser) he hardly did anything constructive to propel United’s attack.
Anthony Martial – 7/10
He was by far the best player for the visitors by gazillion light-years. It was his threat which kept the Sunderland rearguard in check throughout the 90 mins.
Wayne Rooney – 6/10
This is the first time in 2016 that the United captain has performed poorly. He was more like Rooney of 2015 compared to his lethal best of recent past.
Substitutes
Donald Love – 6/10
The youngster was decent enough in his United debut.
Will Keane – N/A
Hardly had any impact on the game for whatever time he managed to eke out on the pitch.
Memphis Depay – 6/10
The birthday boy tried his best to turn the tide but lacked the confidence.
