United beats Sunderland to ease pressure on Amorim
Ruben Amorim's 50th game in charge of Manchester United ended in victory as Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko scored in a 2-0 win over Sunderland, easing the pressure on their under-fire head coach.
Amorim was forced to defend his use of a 3-4-3 formation once again before the match, and although he stuck with his preferred system at Old Trafford, five changes to United's starting line-up gave it a renewed energy.
Having taken the place of Matheus Cunha, Mount gave United an eighth-minute lead when he steered a smart volley home from just inside the area, capping an 18-pass move.
United pressed for more goals but waas denied by Robin Roefs, who saved efforts from Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbuemo before tipping Bruno Fernandes’ strike on to the bar, although he could do nothing to stop Sesko’s 31st-minute finish after Dalot’s long throw glanced off Nordi Mukiele.
Regis Le Bris matched United's formation when he introduced Dan Ballard in the 37th minute, and Sunderland immediately improved as Granit Xhaka tested debutant goalkeeper Senne Lammens from range.
The Black Cats also had a penalty award overturned after Sesko challenged Trai Hume, while Ballard headed just wide from the subsequent corner.
They struggled to carve out clear-cut chances in the second half, though, with their hopes fading after substitute Chemsdine Talbi shot straight at Lammens in the 90th minute.
The result lifts United within one point of Sunderland in the Premier League table before the international break, with the Red Devils eighth on 10 points and the Black Cats still sixth.
"Of course, it's so much better to win games. We were a team that were an adult team," Amorim said.
"We didn't play well all the game, but we had our moments and we defended well. I think Senne [Lammens] did a great job and gave us confidence.
"It was a good day, not a perfect day, but to win like this with a clean sheet is important for our team. Every team, especially the big teams, need to win every game at home, but we need to perform the same way at home and away."
After going goalless in his first five Premier League outings for United, Sesko has now scored in back-to-back league matches – his first scoring streak since netting in five straight games for RB Leipzig between December 2024 and January 2025.
"He has the potential to do so much more," Amorim added. "That is the good thing for Ben; the small details, not just the goals.
"Of course, he lives for goals and the media puts a lot of pressure on him to score as a striker, but the important thing is that every time we kicked the ball today, he was there.
"We have to build [him] up because, in this club, we have to perform, but he’s doing really well. He's working really well and, again, he has a lot to improve."
Meanwhile, Sunderland has failed to score in three of its seven Premier League games this season; only Aston Villa (four) has been unable to find the net more often in the English top flight.
"The main takeaway from this game doesn't define our start to the season," Black Cats boss Le Bris insisted. "It is a strong reminder, and this is a good lesson for us today."
