Manchester United v Sunderland

1. Man Utd XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Schneiderlin, Carrick; Mata, Rooney, Depay; Martial.
2. Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O'Shea, Kaboul, Cattermole, M'Vila, Johnson, Toivonen, Lens, Borini.

FULL-TIME

All over at Old Trafford. Easy win in the end for Manchester United, who are top of the Premier League. 

Sunderland pass their way through midfield but Jeremain Lens's effort is deflected and does no harm. 

Four minutes of added time and the final whistle cannot come soon enough for Sunderland.

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GOAL - Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland

United winger Ashley Young has another go at Billy Jones but this time finds Juan Mata at the back post, who takes a touch and fires in from close range. 

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Wayne Rooney wants another, as he bursts forward down the centre of the pitch but is tackled by Younes Kaboul. 

Yann M'vila lets go from fully 30 yards but it is high and wide as the Sunderland fans decide it's time to call it a day. 

Ashley Young twists and turns down the right, he beats Billy Jones but Wayne Rooney cannot get a foot on the United winger's low cross. 

YELLOW CARD

Booking for Lee Cattermole as he brings down Morgan Schneiderlin. Frustrating day for Sunderland midfielder, who has done his best but lacked backing from his team-mates. 

Matteo Darmian bursts down the United left but his cross is cleared. Wayne Rooney has plenty of time to pass out right too. 

Not sure we are facing a Sunderland fightback here. The game is dead and United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is carefully pulling the strings. 

Good break from United as Wayne Rooney bursts down the left and pulls back for Juan Mata, whose shot from the edge of the box is well saved by Costel Pantilimon. 

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SUBSTITUTION

United substitution as Ashley Young replaces Memphis Depay, who has had a good game today. 

So a whole division sets these two teams apart now. The Sunderland fans don't look too chuffed. Can their team turn this around? Not seen too much evidence of that happening so far.

SUBSTITUTION

Daley Blind is to make way for Phil Jones. Think the Dutchman is OK, as Jones comes on for his first Premier League appearance of the season.

Sunderland sub as Sebastian Larsson comes on for Ola Toivonen. Daley Blind is getting treatment for clash of heads with Steven Fletcher, but he's fine to continue. 

Antonio Valencia twists and turns on the right and crosses for Anthony Martial, whose header is just over. Tony to Tony.

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SUBSTITUTION

Michael  Carrick comes off and is replaced by Bastain Schweinsteiger. 

Oh what a waste. Anthony Martial collects the ball up front, shrugs off a challenge and puts in Memphis Depay, who is clean through on goal but sticks it straight at Costel Pantilimon. Should have been 3-0.

Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial are providing all the smart work in and around the box, darting this way and that.

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The Old Trafford faithful are a lot more content now, applauding Anthony Martial for his endeavour and happily clapping some neat tidying-up by Michael Carrick. 

United looking for a third. First a cross is slightly too high for Anthony Martial and then the teenage striker cannot get on the end of Juan Mata's cut-back. The Spaniard might have been advised to strike himself.

GREAT SAVE!

Manchester United's David De Gea is the saviour again. This time it is Patrick van Aanholt who gets in around the back but when the Sunderland left-back approaches the United goal, De Gea saves with his feet again. 

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John Motson

BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Manchester United are not quite playing with the flow and artistry that we come to associate with them." 

'Remarkable' United set to top table

Martin Keown

Former Arsenal defender on Final Score

"To see Manchester United be top of the table tonight, it's quite remarkable, and for City now it seems the wheels are coming off for them."

Manchester United happy to knock the ball around now. Antonio Valencia is seeing plenty of the ball on the right but has not quite delivered so far when it has been given to him. 

Jermain Defoe sits as an interested spectator on the Sunderland bench, although he's reported to have had a hamstring problem. 

The Sunderland corner is cleared at the near post. Wasteful. 

Sunderland pressing higher up the pitch now and win a corner. 

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The free-kick is clipped to the back post, the ball arrives in a bundle of players, drops to the floor and Ola Toivonen pokes towards goal from about two yards out. But guess what? David De Gea saves from point-blank range. 

Sunderland are going to come out of their shell now and Steven Fletcher is brought down by Morgan Schneiderlin as he breaks forward. Free-kick to Sunderland.

A couple of goals and the picture looks a lot more rosey. 

Billy Jones hacks Memphis Depay down. Sunderland look shot. 

What must Dick Advocaat be thinking? Two goals conceded in two minutes either side of the break. Wayne Rooney ends his longest Premier League goal drought and is now joint-third with Denis Law on the list of United's all-time leading league scorers with 171 goals.

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GOAL - Man Utd 2-0 Sunderland

Calamity for Sunderland as Anthony Martial bursts into the box and cuts back for Wayne Rooney, who bundles the ball over the line. That's his first goal in 12 league games, most welcome for the United striker

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KICK-OFF

Sunderland make a change and Steven Fletcher is on for Adam Johnson. We are under way. 

Top of the league, as it stands

Whatever you think of the performance at Old Trafford today, this must make quite nice viewing for Manchester United fans. Manchester City were beaten 4-1 by Tottenham earlier today. 

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Get Involved

Jon: If Sunderland are the worst side in the league, then United are the second worst on this showing! Really poor #MUFC GOAL!

Raymond: Get in there. Memphis finally gets his goal.

Have your say using #bbcfootball now.

HALF-TIME

If Sunderland are going to find a way back into this game, they need to find a way of getting near the United area. They have been penned back in their own half for most of the first 45 minutes and only managed 15 touches in the final third of the field (see graphic on the right). United, who have spent most of the game camped outside the Sunderland box, have made significantly more (see graphic on the left).

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Get Involved

That goal also takes Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as it stands. 

HALF-TIME

That's 11 of Sunderland's 14 Premier League goals conceded before the break. Memphis Depay now has four goals this season. 

HALF-TIME

Well, that was perhaps a little harsh on Sunderland, who defended well for the most part but cannot prevent their poor first-half record continuing. 

GOAL - Memphis Depay

That will wake them up! Daley Blind pings a deep cross-field pass to Juan Mata, who squares it along the six-yard line for Memphis Depay to easily tuck in. That's his first in the Premier League this season. 

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It is very quiet inside Old Trafford. The home fans have not had much to cheer. 

A rare Sunderland attack as Jeremain Lens drives towards the United box. He lays-off to Adam Johnson, whose shot is blocked by Chris Smalling.

Four minutes of added time. 

Cattermole keeping United at bay

Sunderland's Lee Cattermole blocks a Wayne Rooney shot and has been a big reason why United can find no way through. No Sunderland player has won the ball back more than him this afternoon, with Cattermole making three tackles (green triangles), three interceptions (blue) and winning possession on six other occasions (yellow).

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When Manchester United attack, they are doing so without pace and Sunderland are finding it easy to get numbers back in defence. 

Trench-like defence by Sunderland, as this average position graphic shows. The Black Cats are the right graphic, by the way.

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Anthony Martial is in behind the Sunderland defence on the left side and wins a corner. Again it is cleared. 

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Memphis Depay's free-kick is tame and clips the wall on its way over. Easy for Costel Pantilimon. Not been a great game so far. 

Adam Johnson booked for handling the ball after the ball is struck at him by Yann M'vila. Outside the box about 25 yards out. Memphis Depay over it.

Breathe easy United fans, Anthony Martial is back on his feet. 

Sunderland win a free-kick deep in the United half as Chris Smalling handles. Adam Johnson steps up to take it but it is easily cleared. Anthony Martial is down injured after a tangle with Lee Cattermole. Looks like the United teenager got caught after the Sunderland midfielder passed it back to Costel Pantilimon.

Chris Smalling drives forward now and feeds Wayne Rooney, but the United striker's pass is too strong for Anthony Martial. More whistles from the home fans as Costel Pantilimon takes his time with the free-kick and then for Fabio Borini, who has been grounded by a Antonio Valencia follow-through. The Sunderland striker is up and looks fine.

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United's Daley Blind, who looks to be sporting a new trim, drives forward and tries to feed Memphis Depay down the left but the move fizzles out. The home fans are getting restless with the amount of time Sunderland are taking with their restarts. 

Wayne Rooney starting to get on the ball a bit more now. Lee Cattermole is practically his shadow but a pass out to Antonio Valencia eventually results in a United cross which is cleared before Juan Mata is wayward with a chipped through ball. 

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Michael Carrick's subsequent header is way over. Disappointing set-pieces so far from United. 

Wayne Rooney on the break. He cannot find Manchester United team-mate Anthony Martial but it breaks for Memphis Depay, whose shot is tipped over. Corner.

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CLOSE!

Sunderland are in down the left here and Jeremain Lens has time to shoot from 12 yards but David De Gea saves with his feet. Encouraging.

United striker Wayne Rooney has not been involved too much so far. Bit scrappy in midfield but then Memphis Depay bursts into the box and is crowded out before Michael Carrick over-hits a cross. 

John Motson

BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Atmosphere fairly quiet so far, needs a goal to lift this game."

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Louis van Gaal looking pensive alongside Ryan Giggs on the United bench. Plenty of possession for the hosts so far. 

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Juan Mata over it and slams the ball straight into the Sunderland wall. The Black Cats got away with one there. Very poor communication in the visitors' defence. 

Right old mix-up in the Sunderland defence between Younes Kaboul and Costel Pantilimon, which ends up with the goalkeeper handling outside the box. United free-kick.

United hit Michael Carrick at the front post, his flick falls to Morgan Schneiderlin but his effort is well wide. 

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John O'Shea bundles Anthony Martial over, conceding a free-kick. When the ball is played quickly to Juan Mata, his deflected shot is wide. Corner.

Sunderland have conceded 10 of their 13 Premier League goals in the first half this season but they are looking fairly organised so far as Manchester United keep the ball ahead of them. 

First chance for Sunderland as a deep free-kick is cleared out wide to Younes Kaboul on the left wing. He whips in a deep cross and John O'Shea heads it goalwards but it's an easy save for David De Gea. 

More pressure from the hosts as Michael Carrick plays in Memphis Depay, but he cannot reach the pass and after a bit of a struggle with the Sunderland defence, it goes out for a goal-kick.

Juan Mata takes it, but it is poorly struck and cleared easily at the front post by Sunderland. 

Great play by Anthony Martial, who tricks Fabio Borini and then waltzes past Lee Cattermole before being fouled. Free-kick to Manchester United on the edge of the box.

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Matteo Darmian sprints down the left now for Manchester United, gets to the byeline and crosses deep but it just too high for Anthony Martial as it flicks the top of his head. 

Michael Carrick back in the Manchester United side today and seeing plenty of the ball. Wayne Rooney struggles to take advantage as Sunderland give the ball away in their own half. 

Manchester United's Juan Mata plays a nice ball in behind for Antonio Valencia, who breaks forward from full-back, but he cannot control the ball before it goes behind the goalline. 

Both teams exchange long passes forward that come to nothing. Fabio Borini gives Lee Cattermole the thumbs-up.

KICK-OFF

We are under way on a warm autumnal day in Manchester. Referee Mike Jones blasts his whistle and we are off. Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands watching on.

Line-ups

A reminder of the two teams today as they come out of the tunnel and shake hands. 

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As it stands

There have been a few cheers already at Old Trafford before the action has even started. Manchester City's 4-1 defeat by Tottenham means that a win today will put Manchester United top of the Premier League. 

Are they title contenders now? You can tweet us on #bbcfootball, add your thoughts on the Match of the Day Facebook page or text us on 81111. 

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Get Involved

If you agree with that or reckon Sunderland can overturn the form book, get in touch. 

You can tweet us on #bbcfootball, add your thoughts on the Match of the Day Facebook page or text us on 81111.

'Poor defences have aided Martial'

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Football journalist Julien Laurens was on BBC Radio 5 live last night and suggested there is a theory in France as to why Anthony Martial has started off so well at Manchester United.

"Because your defences in the Premier League are nowhere near as good as in Ligue 1, the defending he faced wasn’t world class and that’s helped him settle so well and it’s great for his confidence. 

"The one game he didn't score in was the game against a foreign side - PSV. 

"I'm surprised people in England hadn't heard of him. He was the next big thing in French football since he was 12."

Martial is your man

Part of that ruthlessness has come in the guise of Anthony Martial, who has four goals in his past four games. Every one makes that £36m price tag a little lighter. However, there is an interesting theory going round in France apparently...

Ruthless United

For a team looking to tighten up at the back, Sunderland could come up against a lethal Manchester United side today. 

BBC Sport

Leaky Black Cats

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat on his side conceding 10 of their 13 Premier League goals in the first half: “We cannot win in 45 minutes, we have to play 90. We have to be organised and we will create chances but most importantly we must not concede easy goals.”

'Sunderland are used to this'

BBC Radio 5 Live

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The Telegraph’s North East reporter Luke Edwards was on BBC Radio 5 live last night.

"There’s not been much to get optimistic about for Newcastle or Sunderland. It’s a very miserable time for both clubs. 

"Sunderland are so used to this, depressingly so. They’ve become relegation escape act specialists. 

"They’re both the shining example of what's wrong with the Premier League. They're worried about going down so won’t take a  risk on youngsters. They would rather go abroad than give one of their own a chance."

Sunderland sit bottom of the Premier League and Manchester United are second, but Dick Advocaat has only lost once in 10 games as a manager against Louis van Gaal teams. If anyone needs a result today, it is Dick.

Team News

Louis van Gaal makes five changes to the Manchester United side that beat Ipswich in the Capital One Cup in midweek. Anthony Martial is back in the side after appearing from the bench on Wednesday, while Matteo Darmian will start at left-back instead of Ashley Young. Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick are all included. 

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Sunderland make four changes after they were thumped 4-1 by Manchester City in the same competition. Costel Pantilimon, Billy Jones and Younes Kaboul return to the defence, while Lee Cattermole starts instead of injured midfielder Jack Rodwell.   

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Team News

Right let's break from the chat for now, time for some team news. 

Can Rooney hit the mark?

Sunderland's last victory at Old Trafford was a recent one, a 1-0 win in May 2014. Alas that is the Black Cats' only victory here since 1968. 

Good job that Wayne Rooney hasn't been scoring much in the Premier League then. The Manchester United striker has four goals in other competitions, though.

BBC Sport

Double Dutch

Double Dutch at Old Trafford today as Louis van Gaal welcomes his former Sparta Rotterdam team-mate Dick Advocaat to town. The Premier League table might make grim reading for the visiting manager, whose team are bottom of the pile, but there is a glimmer of hope. 

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