Sunderland 0 - 0 Man Utd

Lee Cattermole (left) and Anderson (right)

Cattermole and Anderson challenge for the ball in a hard-fought encounter

By Phil Dawkes

Sunderland were the better side but had to settle for a point against an underwhelming Manchester United in a delayed start at the Stadium of Light.

Bolo Zenden struck the base of the post as the home side completely dominated the opening 45 minutes.

The second half was more even but the Black Cats were still the likeliest to score and would have done had Darren Bent not put a close-range effort wide.

Substitute Dimitar Berbatov's shot past the post was the closest United came.

Anything more than a point for second-placed United would have been undeserved from what was an extremely poor display by their standards and gives league-leaders Chelsea the chance to further extend their advantage when they face Arsenal on Sunday.

Sunderland were unlucky not to earn a win at Liverpool last week and will again look at this match as one from which they should have secured three points.

Kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes because of a burst water pipe in the Manchester United dressing room that caused part of the ceiling to collapse, and for most of this game the visitors were forced to stem a tide on the pitch.

A succession of early corners - none of which posed a serious threat - were a testimony to the home side's early dominance, which they should have capitalised on in the 15th minute.

Lee Cattermole ran into space ahead of the United defence and his superb pass fed Steed Malbranque through on goal but the Frenchman delayed his shot and gave Edwin van de Sar the opportunity to block well.

Sunderland continued to press and were denied again shortly after when Van der Sar's palm away was fired back into the six-yard box by Malbranque for Nedum Onuoha to re-direct a shot that would have found the net but for a block by Nemanja Vidic.

606: DEBATE

I cannot see a team in the top six that can scare us now, and based on this performance we made Man U look average

roger britton

The Black Cats came closer still before half time when Zenden's 25-yard shot hit the base of the post.

Michael Owen was starting his first Premier League game in nine months but lasted only 45 minutes as he was replaced by Berbatov after a completely ineffectual first-half performance.

Berbatov was involved immediately after the restart, directing a Paul Scholes scuffed shot into the back of the net, but the Bulgarian was clearly offside.

Sunderland posed less of a threat in the second half but they still looked the more likely side to break the deadlock.

A Zenden free-kick into the box provided Ahmed El-Muhammadi with an initial shot that was blocked, giving the Egyptian a second bite of the cherry which he blazed over.

Moments later, Malbranque attempted a shot from 25 yards, which struck the foot of Rio Ferdinand and deflected on to the roof of the net.

Sunderland's Darren Bent has been in superb form this season, scoring seven goals in his last eight matches, and he had a chance to improve this record when Phil Bardsley found him with a pull-back from the left, but the England striker put his first-time shot past the near post.

United's brightest period of the game came with 15 minutes to go when firstly Nani drew a good save from Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet with a dipping shot before Berbatov fired a low drive just wide of the post.

Asamoah Gyan has already made an impressive impact since joining Sunderland and he almost made an explosive instant impression on this game, forcing a save from Van der Sar with an overhead kick shortly after coming on for Malbranque.

Sunderland ensured at least a point for their efforts by blocking Vidic's diving header late on, but the result means they remain without a victory over United in 18 attempts stretching back to March 1997.

Live text and stats

Saturday, 2 October 2010

Premier League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Sunderland	0-0	Man Utd	FT
(HT 0-0)

Ref: FoyAtt: 41,709

SUNDERLAND

MAN UTD

Possession

Sunderland 50%
Man Utd 50%

Attempts on target

Sunderland 8
Man Utd 4

Attempts off target

Sunderland 6
Man Utd 6

Corners

Sunderland 10
Man Utd 4

Fouls

Sunderland 10
Man Utd 6

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:59 The referee ends the match.
90:00+3:31 Corner taken by Jordan Henderson.
90:00+3:12 Corner taken by Andy Reid played to the near post.
90:00+2:41 Jordan Henderson restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+2:41 Booking Booking for Rafael Da Silva.
90:00+2:31 Asamoah Gyan fouled by Rafael Da Silva, the ref awards a free kick.
90:00+2:21 Nemanja Vidic takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Turner.
90:00+1:49 Darren Fletcher restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:49 Booking Michael Turner goes into the referee's book.
90:00+1:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dimitar Berbatov by Michael Turner.
90:00+0:19 Headed effort on goal by Darren Bent from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the goal.
88:54 Luis Nani has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
86:29 Luis Nani takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Turner.
85:21 Effort on goal by Javier Hernandez from just inside the area clears the bar.
83:23 Asamoah Gyan produces a overhead kick right-footed shot from 12 yards. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
81:26 Substitution Asamoah Gyan replaces Steed Malbranque.
81:26 Substitution Andy Reid comes on in place of Boudewijn Zenden.
79:54 Dimitar Berbatov has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
78:46 Rafael Da Silva takes the free kick.
78:46 Substitution Tiago Bebe comes on in place of Oliveira Anderson.
78:46 Boudewijn Zenden concedes a free kick for a foul on Luis Nani.
76:53 Luis Nani takes a shot. Save made by Simon Mignolet.
73:08 The referee penalises Darren Bent for handball. Rio Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.
72:33 Effort from deep inside the area by Darren Bent misses to the left of the goal.
69:40 Ahmed Elmohamady concedes a free kick for a foul on Nemanja Vidic. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Oliveira Anderson from left wing, Titus Bramble manages to make a clearance.
68:49 Luis Nani takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
67:46 Ahmed Elmohamady takes a shot. Nemanja Vidic gets a block in.
66:31 Short corner worked by Jordan Henderson.
66:16 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Blocked by Rio Ferdinand.
65:37 Header from close range by Javier Hernandez misses to the right of the target.
63:41 John O'Shea takes the direct free kick.
63:41 Substitution (Man Utd) makes a substitution, with Javier Hernandez coming on for Federico Macheda.
63:41 Boudewijn Zenden gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Federico Macheda.
62:06 Effort on goal by Ahmed Elmohamady from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
61:06 Foul by Oliveira Anderson on Steed Malbranque, free kick awarded. Boudewijn Zenden restarts play with the free kick.
59:16 The offside flag is raised against Federico Macheda. Simon Mignolet takes the free kick.
58:25 Corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani, Simon Mignolet makes a save.
57:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Oliveira Anderson by Lee Cattermole. Darren Fletcher takes the direct free kick.
54:21 Luis Nani fouled by Phillip Bardsley, the ref awards a free kick. Rio Ferdinand takes the free kick.
50:51 The assistant referee signals for offside against Federico Macheda. Indirect free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.
49:47 Inswinging corner taken by Luis Nani from the left by-line.
49:38 Luis Nani takes a shot. Blocked by Phillip Bardsley.
47:23 The referee blows for offside against Dimitar Berbatov. Free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.
47:15 Paul Scholes takes a shot.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution Dimitar Berbatov replaces Michael Owen.
Half Time
45:00+2:02 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steed Malbranque on Rafael Da Silva. Free kick taken by Paul Scholes.
43:56 A cross is delivered by Rafael Da Silva, save by Simon Mignolet.
41:07 Boudewijn Zenden takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Luis Nani makes a clearance.
37:50 Foul by Titus Bramble on Oliveira Anderson, free kick awarded. Luis Nani shoots direct from the free kick.
36:42 Inswinging corner taken by Jordan Henderson, clearance made by John O'Shea.
36:27 Boudewijn Zenden takes a shot from just outaide the penalty area and strikes the post.
36:20 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Nemanja Vidic gets a block in.
35:02 Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
30:09 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Paul Scholes gets a block in.
29:31 Corner from the right by-line taken by Boudewijn Zenden, Edwin Van der Sar makes a save.
27:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Oliveira Anderson by Steed Malbranque. Free kick taken by Oliveira Anderson.
26:46 Centre by Luis Nani, save by Simon Mignolet.
25:57 Darren Bent takes a shot. Nemanja Vidic gets a block in.
25:07 Unfair challenge on Darren Bent by Luis Nani results in a free kick. Jordan Henderson takes the free kick.
24:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steed Malbranque by Federico Macheda. Direct free kick taken by Boudewijn Zenden.
23:21 Boudewijn Zenden takes the inswinging corner, save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
21:38 The ball is delivered by Rafael Da Silva, save by Simon Mignolet.
Correction - 15:46 Direct free kick taken by Jordan Henderson, The ball is swung over by Boudewijn Zenden.
15:46 Boudewijn Zenden crosses the ball in from the free kick.
15:46 Booking The referee cautions Nemanja Vidic for unsporting behaviour.
Correction - 15:39 Nemanja Vidic concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Bent.
15:39 Nemanja Vidic challenges Darren Bent unfairly and gives away a free kick.
15:02 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
13:14 Corner taken by Oliveira Anderson, Simon Mignolet makes a save.
13:06 Luis Nani delivers the ball, blocked by Michael Turner.
12:27 Jordan Henderson has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
8:47 Darren Bent has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.
6:45 Corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden from the right by-line.
6:23 Corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden from the right by-line, clearance by Nemanja Vidic.
5:49 Inswinging corner taken by Jordan Henderson, clearance by Nemanja Vidic.
3:39 Darren Bent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nemanja Vidic. Direct free kick taken by Edwin Van der Sar.
2:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Scholes on Steed Malbranque. Direct free kick taken by Boudewijn Zenden.
0:00 The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

Potenshöjande medel - köp viagra

Sport Forward

Saturday, October 2, 2010