Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland full match preview and highlights(video)

Wayne Rooney ended his Barclays Premier League goal drought as Manchester United moved to the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The United captain's first league strike for 1,000 minutes was sandwiched by efforts from Memphis Depay and Juan Mata as United leapfrogged Manchester City.

Louis van Gaal's men headed into the fixture knowing victory would lift them to the summit following City's 4-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur. That scenario doubtless added to the frustration of the home supporters as United struggled to craft a meaningful opportunity for much of the opening half.

Yet they still headed into the break ahead after Depay finished a fine move for his first league goal since joining from PSV Eindhoven in the summer. Rooney's long-awaited goal came just after the break and Mata added a third late on to cap another difficult afternoon for Sunderland.

A hamstring problem meant Jermain Defoe had to settle for a place on the Sunderland bench, with Fabio Borini leading the line.

The Italian had little opportunity to make an impact during the early exchanges as United enjoyed the lion's share of the ball. Yet their possession was not yielding chances, and Sunderland threatened first when John O'Shea's looping header forced a simple save from David De Gea.

The United goalkeeper required a better stop midway through the opening half to stop Sunderland taking the lead, the Spaniard using his legs to keep out Jeremain Lens' fizzing half-volley.

The hosts quickly settled back into a composed passing rhythm, and their first real moment of quality brought an opener in first-half stoppage time.

Daley Blind's superb diagonal ball found Mata's clever run down the right channel. Mata played a controlled first-time cross for Depay to slot into an empty net from close in.

A second came instantly after the restart from Rooney. Anthony Martial brilliantly worked his way past Younes Kaboul down the right before firing in a cross that hit Rooney's right knee and flew into the net.

Sunderland almost reduced the arrears when Ola Toivonen was denied by De Gea. The United No 1 had to be alert again soon after as Patrick van Aanholt raced on to Borini's through-ball, only to hit straight at the goalkeeper.

Depay had a glorious chance to claim a second in the 67th minute, but the Dutchman failed to beat Costel Pantilimon when clean through after more good work from Martial.

United did make it 3-0 in the final minute as substitute Ashley Young crossed from the left for Mata to fire high into the net.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "It's a nice feeling to be top of the table, it's the first time in my period so I'm happy.

"It's always difficult when you play against a team who is only defending and counting on the counter-attack. You have to be aware and I have to admit my defence was very good today.

"A goal is the biggest influence in a game and I changed my approach at half-time because of that. It became another game but they didn't come at us very much."

Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat: "The first half we did well, organisation wise, but the problem was they scored one minute before half-time and one minute after half-time.

"United were the better side but they didn't create a lot of chances.

"It's a shame we gave that goal away in the first half because it made things different in the second half."

i can't wait for manure to collapse

obenar wrote:

i can't wait for manure to collapse

haa see u event chelsea can't smell top four this season

Manchester united everywhere i go

actually its gona be sweet if chelsea didn't qualify for champions league

obenar wrote:

actually its gona be sweet if chelsea didn't qualify for champions league

See your mouth? God pass you we shall quality more so we shall win the league gbam!!!

ancl wrote:

obenar wrote:

actually its gona be sweet if chelsea didn't qualify for champions league

See your mouth? God pass you we shall quality more so we shall win the league gbam!!!

in ur dream@ancl

Chelsea will win league with this start up