It felt like a must-win game for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United’s embattled head coach got the victory he needed amid growing uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.
Amorim will hope it’s enough to steady the ship going into the international break after United secured their third Premier League win a row at home – and by far the most convincing after rather chaotic victories over Burnley and Chelsea.
Trouble is, both have been followed by comprehensive defeats at Manchester City and Brentford, and United’s next game is away at Liverpool.
Chris Wheeler was at Old Trafford to analyse the action…
UNITED STARS REPAY THE FAITH
There was never any danger of Amorim changing his system after launching into such a staunch defence of it during his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday, but he did change his line-up.
The United boss chose a big moment to give new goalkeeper Senne Lammens his debut in place of Altay Bayindir as one of five changes that saw him drop two of the players he has signed – Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu.
Leny Yoro, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo came back into the line-up, with Mount and Diallo particularly impressive in a more cohesive United performance.
Lammens could hardly have asked for worse weather conditions to make his first appearance on a windswept day at Old Trafford that veered between downpours and glaring sunshine, but he dealt with the situation well.
Amorim also stuck with £73.7million striker Benjamin Sesko in attack and was rewarded with the Slovenian’s second goal in a week.
Amorim stuck with £74million striker Sesko in attack – who scored his second goal in a week
AMORIM STICKS TO THE SCRIPT
Dressed in a full tracksuit despite the bad weather, Amorim stayed on the touchline throughout and was as animated as ever, pacing up and down his technical area.
Having committed just 124 words to his notes in the match programme (‘We all know the season has not started how we wanted it to,’ he wrote, with an air of understatement) Amorim relaxed a little after Mount guided home the first goal, and gave a double fist pump after Sesko turned in the second from close-range.
Otherwise, it was business as usual and he was first off the pitch and down the tunnel at the end, pausing briefly to acknowledge the Stretford End.
Dressed in a full tracksuit despite the bad weather, the United boss was as animated as ever
STRETFORD END HAIL A NEW HERO
Chants of ‘attack, attack, attack’ by the travelling United fans at Brentford last weekend had not gone unnoticed by the United hierarchy who recognised a rare show of dissent by their supporters.
There were no complaints here as United got forward at every opportunity and went two goals up just after the half hour mark. The Stretford End sang Amorim’s name loudly enough towards the conclusion of both halves without ever threatening to raise the roof.
By far the biggest show of support came for Lammens who had little to do until late in the second half when he made a flying save to palm away Granit Xhaka’s shot and then plucked Noah Sadiki’s cross out of the air, both to a huge cheer.
A 90th-minute save one-on-one with Chemsdine Talbi brought a similar reaction from the home fans who also gave Kobbie Mainoo a rousing reception when he came on in the 77th minute.
The biggest show of support came for Lammens who had little to do until late in the second half
AMAD HAUNTS FORMER CLUB
Amorim’s side sought to expose Sunderland down the right flank where Diallo posed a constant threat to his old club. The little Ivorian forced a fine save from Robin Roefs and headed wide of an open goal after the Sunderland keeper brilliantly touched Bruno Fernandes’ effort against the crossbar.
United weren’t afraid to go long to Sesko either, with Bryan Mbeumo and Mount looking to feed off the second balls.
One lesson Amorim could learn from Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris: with his team two goals down and in danger of being overrun towards the end of the first half, Le Bris took off winger Simon Adingra and sent on another centre-back in Dan Ballard as the visitors switched to a back-five.
There’s nothing wrong with adapting the system to suit the circumstances.
