Sunderland v Manchester United: The last five meetings at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland desperately need to end their 19-year wait for a home league victory over Manchester United today.
Bolo Zenden fires against the post in Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Manchester United in October 2010Bolo Zenden fires against the post in Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Manchester United in October 2010
Bolo Zenden fires against the post in Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Manchester United in October 2010

Here we look back at the last five meetings of the clubs at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have only scored twice in those games, but have conceded just five.

2014/15: SAFC 1 Man Utd 1

Jack Rodwell paid back a chunk of Sunderland’s £10million summer outlay after the midfielder’s first goal for the Black Cats secured a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Home debutant Rodwell’s leveller made it two draws in two games for the Black Cats, as Gus Poyet’s side fought back from a goal down in their Stadium of Light opener.

Against the run of play, Juan Mata gave United an early lead when he tapped home Antonio Valencia’s low cross.

But Sunderland pulled level on the half-hour mark when Rodwell headed home Seb Larsson’s corner.

A Connor Wickham volley which deflected just wide was the closest Sunderland came to a winner, yet it was a second half where both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

2013/14: SAFC 1 Man Utd 2

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Adnan Januzaj’s second-half double ruined managerless Sunderland’s hopes of a first Premier League win, to keep the Black Cats rooted to the foot of the table.

Craig Gardner’s early strike, rifling home after Emanuele Giaccherini’s cross cannoned off Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic, gave Sunderland - under the control of caretaker boss Kevin Ball - a thoroughly deserved half-time advantage against the reigning Premier League champions and the lead could have been more handsome.

Giaccherini was denied by a magnificent save from David De Gea before the Italian spurned another golden opportunity from eight yards out.

But 18-year-old Januzaj, making his first Premier League start, drew Manchester United level 10 minutes after the restart and then scored a spectacular second on the volley to inflict Sunderland’s sixth defeat in seven league games.

2012/13: SAFC 0 Man Utd 1

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Martin O’Neill was sacked as Sunderland manager hours after seeing his side lose out by a single goal to Manchester United.

Robin van Persie’s deflected strike inflicted a fifth defeat in seven on Sunderland, as the Black Cats were unable to give their survival hopes an unexpected boost.

Van Persie spun away down the left flank and twisted and turned Phil Bardsley as he descended towards the area, before hitting a low left-footed cross-come-shot which deflected off both the full-back and luckless defender Titus Bramble and nestled in the far corner of Simon Mignolet’s net.

The Dutchman’s 26th-minute effort proved sufficient to separate the sides at the Stadium of Light, with the league leaders solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manchester United cruised through the first half against a lacklustre Sunderland, albeit Sir Alex Ferguson’s men didn’t create a host of clear-cut opportunities.

Sunderland were much-improved in the second half, but were never able to force United stopper David De Gea into a meaningful save.

2011/12: SAFC 0 Man Utd 1

Sunderland ended their Premier League campaign with defeat, but it was not enough to earn victors Manchester United the title.

Wayne Rooney’s winner at the Stadium of Light looked to have been enough for United to seal an unlikely title success on the final day, but Manchester City’s late comeback to beat QPR made the result on Wearside irrelevant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were well worth the three points, as Sunderland only produced in fits and starts, with the Black Cats finishing the campaign in 13th spot after ending the season with an eight-game winless run.

United broke the deadlock in the 20th minute after Phil Jones swept in the ball from the right after a patient build-up from the visitors.

Rooney took advantage of the static Black Cats defence to direct the ball into the far corner with a stooping header from six yards out.

Sunderland’s best chance came on 35 minutes when Stephane Sessegnon chipped the ball over the United backline and Fraizer Campbell was unable to direct his volley, sending it high and wide from eight yards out.

2010/11: SAFC 0 Man Utd 0

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sunderland failed to make the most of their superior chances as the visit of Manchester United ended in stalemate – the Black Cats’ fifth draw in their opening seven Premier League games.

Kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes after a burst pipe sent water flooding into the visitors’ dressing room.

Whether or not the disruption affected United was debatable, but their keeper, Edwin van der Sar, and the woodwork kept Sunderland at bay as the hosts dominated the first half.

The Dutchman pulled off a 16th-minute save to deny Steed Malbranque after Lee Cattermole had played his fellow midfielder in and Bolo Zenden saw a 37th-minute effort come back off the post.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

United didn’t seriously threaten Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal until the 77th minute when Nani’s fiercely struck drive from 30 yards for the Belgian to beat the ball away high to his left.

Berbatov was allowed too much room just ourside the box with 10 minutes to go and smashed a shot just wide of Mignolet’s right-hand post.

Right on time, Nemanja Vidic’s close-range header was blocked.