Match Report: United 1 - 0 Sunderland
GOAL: Saha (70)
Victory, three points and a goal from returning striker Louis Saha, will be all that is remembered from this match against a stubborn Sunderland side.
United were at best mediocre against poor opponents managed by Roy Keane, who was given a rousing reception on his return to Old Trafford. Sir Alex’s team was grateful to the French international striker for saving the team’s blushes on his first appearance since last April.
Saha was introduced at the beginning of the second half after a first period in which United’s lack of a cutting edge was leading to nervousness in the dug-out and among the crowd.
The match was a mirror image of those which had gone before this season. Sunderland played for a point and left United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar untroubled for the entire match. United enjoyed plenty of possession but let down by the lack of a measured or perceptive final pass and by ineffective wingplay, United rarely looked like unsettling the well-drilled visitors.
There can be few excuses for another impoverished attacking display. Sir Alex sent out a vision of the club’s future for the contest. Anderson, Nani, Eagles all started when they had been seen as ones for the future in pre-season. Although the youngsters looked useful on occasions, they were unable to leave any mark on the proceedings.
Ditto Carlos Tevez whose labours continue. How Carlos ‘Birtles’ must wish for a partner to shoulder some of the work up front. Rarely can United’s attack have offered so little threat.
The first half began brightly with United hoping to bamboozle the visitors with high tempo passing and movement. Sunderland responded by adapting their shape from 442 to 451 and invited United to do their worst.
Nani, operating on the left flank, shot wide on three minutes after some good approach play. Thereafter, United were reduced to long range strikes by Tevez, Eagles and Scholes which hardly disturbed Gordon in the Sunderland goal.
Dwight Yorke and his fellow midfield conspirators evenly contested the right to midfield domination with Hargreaves and Scholes. United’s lack of width and invention combined with the limited intent of Sunderland and ensured a dull spectacle.
Sir Alex had clearly seen enough and replaced the ineffective Anderson at half time with his French striker and instructed Paul Scholes to offer the front two greater support.
Saha’s introduction brought new momentum to United’s attacks. In the 50th minute, a flighted long ball towards Sunderland’s goal from Rio Ferdinand, was headed clear inadvertently straight into the path of Tevez. His tame drilled shot from outside the box was saved by Gordon.
With Patrice Evra again catching the eye with his forward runs on the left flank, United pressed against the Sunderland defence. Saha’s marvellous control, twist and volley in the 56th minute produced a fine save from Gordon and Vidic went close from the resulting corner.
An Evra run towards the Sunderland goal produced another corner taken by Nani on 70 minutes. The Portuguese forced the game’s one moment of ill-discipline from the Sunderland defence, sending over his corner with precision and finding the head of Saha, who glanced home the game’s best chance.
The embarrassment of Sunderland’s goalkeeper and defenders was matched only by United’s relief. The celebrations of United players was a call for respect for the much-maligned Saha.
United then played out the rest of the game with as little ambition as the visitors had demonstrated during the entire game.
United have played better this season and not collected the points so Sir Alex will not be too despondent. He will recognise however, that his team needs to improve its performance and create more chances. Next up, a ¨Premiership match against an improved Everton. Then Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League and after that, a terrific examination at home to Chelsea.
TEAM
EVDS; Brown; Ferdinand; Vidic, Evra; Nani (O’Shea 83), Scholes, Hargreaves, Eagles (Fletcher 65), Anderson (Saha 46), Tevez
Subs: Kusczak; Carrick
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “Louis Saha made the obvious difference when he came on. He gives us strength and penetration and he got us the goal.
“I didn’t want to start with him but at half-time I thought he was needed. He is different from the rest of our players and, for the first time, they looked pretty edgy at the back.
“The international break has come at a good time for us. It will give us a chance to get well prepared for the Everton game because the players we have to come back will make a difference.”
Roy Keane: “When you lose 1-0 it’s disappointing, especially when it comes from a set-piece, but that’s the Premier League for you. One lapse in concentration and you concede a goal. It’s disappointing but I’m relatively pleased with the players’ efforts and performance levels.
“It would have been nice if we could have tested their keeper a bit more. We looked okay just before we conceded. We had had a warning a few minutes before from a corner and we got away with it, but not second time around.”
