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Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland: Mount and Šeško Goals Ease Pressure on Manager Ruben Amorim Manchester United secured a much-needed 2-0 Premier League victory over newly-promoted Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday, with first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Šeško offering manager Ruben Amorim significant respite following weeks of intense scrutiny. The win, achieved in challenging, wet conditions, provided the Portuguese coach with only his third league victory of the season and marked the first time the club has kept a clean sheet in the Premier League campaign. Mason Mount opened the scoring in the ninth minute with his first goal at Old Trafford since his summer arrival, before Šeško doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark. Despite a spirited second-half showing from Sunderland and a major VAR incident, United held firm to lift themselves into the top half of the table ahead of the international break. The result is critical for Manchester United, who entered the fixture off the back of a disappointing away run that had fuelled speculation regarding Amorim’s immediate future. The match saw Amorim make five changes to his starting eleven, notably handing a Premier League debut to goalkeeper Senne Lammens, signed on deadline day, ahead of Altay Bayındır. The debutant had a composed performance and, despite not facing an overwhelming number of clear-cut chances, secured an important clean sheet. Manchester United started with immediate intent, dominating the midfield through the industry of Mount, Casemiro, and Bruno Fernandes. The opening goal arrived when Bryan Mbeumo delivered a precise ball from the right flank.
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Mount’s first touch demonstrated excellent control, setting him up to strike a low shot past Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. The goal immediately calmed the palpable tension that had hung over the stadium in recent weeks. United's momentum continued, with Roefs forced into several impressive saves, including a fingertip stop to push a curling Fernandes effort onto the crossbar. However, the pressure eventually told. In the 31st minute, a long throw-in from Diogo Dalot was inadvertently flicked on by a Sunderland defender, finding the alert Benjamin Šeško, who tapped home from close range for his second goal in as many games. The Slovenian striker's finish cemented United’s control of the first half. Sunderland, who have enjoyed a surprisingly strong start to the campaign following their promotion, struggled to deal with United's intensity and shape, prompting manager Régis Le Bris to make a tactical substitution just 37 minutes into the game, switching from a back four to a back five to solidify the defence. The most controversial moment of the afternoon came in first-half stoppage time when referee Stuart Attwell initially pointed to the penalty spot after Šeško’s high boot appeared to make contact with Sunderland defender Trai Hume in the box. Following a VAR review, Attwell was directed to the pitchside monitor, where he ultimately overturned his original decision, ruling that there was insufficient contact to warrant a foul, much to the frustration of the travelling Sunderland support and players.
Speaking after the match, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted the performance demonstrated the squad’s commitment to his vision, highlighting the unity required during difficult periods. "I saw today that I know the players want to do their best and I know they don't want to change the coach," Amorim told BBC Sport. "But like I said to the players during this week, we need to show that with our actions. This week, the actions were there. " Goalscorer Mason Mount echoed his manager's sentiments, acknowledging the weight of expectation on the squad. "We’re 100% behind the gaffer," Mount stated. "We’ve had some results that hurt us—the team, the staff, and the fans—but that was important today. This victory needs to be the start of something, and we’ll be working hard over the break to ensure that consistency is maintained. " For Sunderland, the defeat halts their encouraging momentum but does little to derail their season objectives.
They remain comfortably positioned in the table, one point ahead of United despite the loss. Football analyst Alex Smith, speaking on Match of the Day, suggested the Black Cats’ long-term outlook remains positive. “This was always going to be a litmus test for Sunderland, and while they didn’t get the result, they showed grit and resilience to deny United further goals in the second half,” Smith observed. “Their goalkeeper, Roefs, was outstanding, and they have the foundation of a side that can survive this division, even if the result at Old Trafford was disappointing. ” The fixture closes the book on a difficult domestic block for United, who now face an extended period without a match due to the international window. Amorim faces the challenge of ensuring the momentum gained from this vital home victory does not dissipate before their critical next Premier League outing: an away trip to rivals Liverpool on October 19. For Sunderland, who host Wolverhampton Wanderers next, the focus shifts to consolidating their mid-table position after a solid return to the top flight.
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