An underwhelming Manchester United missed out on the opportunity to secure third place in the Premier League with a scoreless draw at Sunderland.
Michael Carrick made five changes from the side that beat Liverpool on Sunday, with the influential Casemiro unfortunately ruled out with a minor injury.
Nonetheless, Lisandro Martinez returned following a three-game suspension, while both Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee were handed rare starting berths in a new-look attack.
But it was the Black Cats who enjoyed the better of the possession, particularly during a dominant first-half display where Regis Le Bris’ men mustered 10 efforts on goal.
Senne Lammens shone brightest for the travelling contingent and once more underlined his value to the side with fine saves to deny Noah Sadiki and Brian Brobbey.
A more determined United threatened late on when Matheus Cunha tested Robin Roefs, after Lutsharel Geertruida saw a well-worked effort denied by the woodwork.
Bruno Fernandes, making his first appearance as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, offered what he could during a rather disjointed second half with four key passes.
Still, it was not to be on a day when absentees and glaring holes in midfield were the focal point of conversation across a frustrated social contingent of support.
“To take a point from here is okay” – Sunderland 0:0 Manchester United
Carrick knows all too well about the difficulties that any Premier League outfit can encounter against a determined Sunderland inside the Stadium of Light.
United’s interim chief spoke with Sky Sports after the final whistle and reflected on the positives from a tricky trip to the North East.
“We take the point, I think a clean sheet is always good to get,” the 44-year-old stated. “I think we’ve scored a lot of goals this season and we’ve created a lot of chances.
“It’s just one of those games, you know, it’s a tough game. It was a decent enough point, and we nearly won it in the end.
“There were some changes today, and I thought, as a collective, the spirit and the attitude of the boys was really good.
“It’s easy to fizzle out after you’ve had a spell and you come towards the end of the season, and you’re really focused on finishing the season strong.
“Was it going to be the perfect game? I think we probably went into it not expecting the perfect game, and understanding the situation and the changes.
“It is what it is. It’s something that we need to overthink and certainly not to be negative about because there’s not a lot to be negative about. We understand that we can be a little bit better than we were at certain times today.
“We need to keep improving, keep working. Take the positives – play with confidence. It’s a tough league – it’s a tough league to get results. Today, to take a point from here is okay.”
| Match Overview via SofaScore | Sunderland | Manchester United |
| Possession | 51% | 49% |
| Total shots | 15 | 11 |
| Big chances | 1 | 0 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 1 | 4 |
| Passes | 481 | 473 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.17 | 0.66 |
Despite the expected angst we see across social media this evening, today’s result leaves United with a six-point cushion over Liverpool, with two fixtures remaining in a campaign of discovery for Ineos.
Preparations are already underway for Nottingham Forest’s visit on Sunday week, before the Reds make the trip south for a season-ending show at Brighton.
Although the debate about performances continues to trend, Carrick remains the frontrunner for the permanent managerial position at M16.
And with every opportunity of securing a top-three finish after everything that has been and gone with Ruben Amorim, few could deny the man his opportunity.
How do you feel following today’s showing and result at the Stadium of Light?
Let us know in the comments or across our social channels – photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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