We were in the third minute of injury-time at a soggy Stadium of Light when Patrick Dorgu teed up Matheus Cunha, and the Brazilian took aim with Manchester United’s first shot on target of the entire game.
Robin Roefs blocked and that was that. Anyone who left here early would have missed it – and, frankly, you couldn’t have blamed them.
As well as Sunderland played in making this a very uncomfortable afternoon for Michael Carrick back in his native north-east, it wasn’t a game that will live long in the memory.
From a United perspective, the only players to emerge with any real credit aside from goalkeeper Senne Lammens were the ones who weren’t playing.
Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko were the two notable absentees among the five changes made by Carrick. They were replaced by Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee, and the Dutchman in particular failed to make the most of his first start since the beginning of December before his number went up just after the hour mark.
Whether Zirkzee will still be a United player next season after nine goals in 73 appearances remains to be seen, but this was a day that underlined the lack of depth that must be addressed before the club returns to the Champions League.
‘I understand it’s not always easy for any player when you haven’t played for a little bit to come into the game, so I’m certainly not judging any individual on just one performance today,’ said Carrick afterwards.
Manchester United put in one of their worst performances in under Michael Carrick against an impressive Sunderland
Zirkzee was by no means alone. Amad Diallo, making his first appearance at the Stadium of Light since he starred here on loan in the 2022-23 season, again looked short of confidence and was the other United player to be replaced.
Diallo’s most significant contribution to the contest came in the first half when he blocked Enzo Le Fee’s pass with an outstretched right arm in the box.
Referee Stuart Attwell, who had prompted an official complaint from United by refusing to award them a second penalty at Bournemouth last month for a challenge on Amad, gave him the benefit of the doubt on this occasion much to Sunderland’s frustration.
Very little went their way, not least in the 71st minute when Brian Brobbey finally beat Lammens and the ball came back off the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.
Lammens has been United’s undisputed No 1 since making his debut against Sunderland in October, and he atoned for arguably the first clanger of his Old Trafford career in last weekend’s win over Liverpool by earning his side a point here.
The pick of his saves came in the sixth minute when he came out to deny Noah Sadiki after he was sent clear by Le Fee’s fantastic through ball.
Lammens also saved bravely at the feet of Brobbey before denying the Dutchman again in the second half, saving one-on-one from another opportunity created by Le Fee.
Fringe players such as Mason Mount (right) got their chance but failed to make an impact
The changes left United disjointed and they badly missed Casemiro, which is a worry given that they will only have him for two more games. Going up against a midfielder of Granit Xhaka’s experience and ability only highlighted the Brazil star’s absence.
‘Casemiro on one side and Granit on the other are not the most physical players in the league in duels and so on, but they manage team-mates and the flow of the squad, and for that they are so important,’ said Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris.
United did threaten on the rare occasion they were able to beat Sunderland’s press and get out of their own half, but Amad curled wide when Bruno Fernandes squared a free kick to him, and Zirkzee headed over from Cunha’s cross.
It spoke volumes about United’s performance that they didn’t have a shot on target before the break for the first time in the Premier League this season, and had to wait until injury-time of the second period for Cunha to test Roefs.
After winning the FWA Footballer of the Year award on Friday, Fernandes was looking for the assist that would have given him a share of the Premier League assist record but never came close to succeeding as United laboured and their frustration grew.
The United captain ended the game crying foul after he was floored by what looked like an elbow from substitute Nilson Angulo. VAR referee Peter Bankes had a good look at it while Attwell waited for word from his colleague, but no action was taken.
‘I genuinely haven’t seen it on TV,’ said Carrick. ‘Bruno said there was contact, and he’s wasn’t too happy about it when he came in. The staff on the bench weren’t too happy with it as well.
‘I don’t know. I’m getting a little bit confused with what’s going on really, so I just might as well stay out of it.’
