Man Utd held to battling goalless draw at Sunderland

By Rebecca Johnson, Press Association

Manchester United and Sunderland shared the spoils in a goalless Premier League stalemate at the Stadium of Light.

The hosts enjoyed a bright first half with Chemsdine Talbi and Noah Sadiki having their best opportunities, while Joshua Zirkzee narrowly nodded over for United.

Sunderland continued to threaten in the second half as Senne Lammens made a solid save from Brian Brobbey before Lutsharel Geertruida hit the post and United went close at the death when Matheus Cunha’s strike was saved.

The game fizzled out into a draw and a point keeps the Old Trafford outfit unbeaten in their last four league outings, having already secured Champions League football for next season, while the Black Cats claimed back-to-back draws.

Sunderland made one change from their last outing against Wolves as the suspended Dan Ballard was replaced by Geertruida.

United made five switches from the team who beat Liverpool, which included a start for former Black Cats loanee Amad Diallo, who enjoyed a successful spell on Wearside during their 2022-2023 campaign.

Talbi looked lively for the home side on the wing early on and sent a curling effort just past the upright.

They came close again just moments later with a neat exchange of one-touch passes in midfield and Enzo Le Fee played a through ball into Sadiki, who forced Lammens into a low save.

United’s first chance came when Bruno Fernandes’ low free-kick reached Amad on the edge of the box, but his effort flew wide.

Sunderland enjoyed the bulk of the possession and had a penalty shout dismissed by VAR after Le Fee’s shot hit Amad’s arm in the box.

Lammens was tested again, punching the ball away after Geertruida awkwardly flicked at Granit Xhaka’s free-kick.

Zirkzee then had a good opportunity for United, nodding narrowly over the crossbar from Cunha’s cross, but Sunderland looked to strike when Brobbey fired wide and Sadiki’s effort was deflected behind.

An even-paced start to the half saw the hosts begin to take control again and Noussair Mazraoui made a defensive header onto the roof of the net before Xhaka’s teasing cross was collected by Lammens.

The Black Cats almost broke the deadlock when Le Fee threaded a pass into Brobbey and the striker had his effort pushed away by the visiting goalkeeper.

Another brilliant chance saw Brobbey flick the ball into Geertruida but the defender’s effort bounced off the post, while Le Fee’s ambitious attempt from distance whizzed over the crossbar in the final 10 minutes.

Following a lacklustre half, a late surge from the visitors saw United skipper Fernandes’ low strike deflected behind for a corner and Cunha’s powerful effort saved by Robin Roefs.

In the final seconds, Fernandes hit a cross into Bryan Mbuemo on the edge of the area and the winger’s attempt was blocked as the points were shared, with two matches to go.