Sunderland and Manchester United played out a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light, with United's goalkeeper Senne Lammens producing a commanding performance to deny the hosts.
Manchester United arrived at Wearside sitting third in the Premier League table with 64 points from 35 matches. Sunderland, meanwhile, occupied 12th place with 47 points and were looking to build momentum after a mixed run of form. The hosts came into the fixture seeking their first win in three games, while United aimed to maintain their push toward the title.
The first half saw Sunderland dominate possession and territory. The home side controlled 51 percent of the ball and created several opportunities to break the deadlock. Brian Brobbey led the line for United but found little space in a crowded Sunderland midfield.
Sunderland pressed high and forced United into defensive positions throughout the opening 45 minutes. Granit Xhaka anchored the away side's midfield with a composed display, making three crucial tackles to shield his back line. The visitors struggled to find rhythm in attack during this period.
Despite Sunderland's pressure, clear-cut chances remained scarce for both teams. United's expected goals tally of 0.57 reflected their limited attacking threat in the first half. Sunderland registered 1.16 expected goals but could not convert their pressure into goals.
The second half brought a shift in intensity as both sides searched for a breakthrough. Mount received a yellow card in the 54th minute for a reckless challenge. Zirkzee followed three minutes later, receiving his own caution in the 58th minute as tensions increased on the pitch.
United's goalkeeper Lammens proved to be the decisive factor in keeping the score level. The shot-stopper made four crucial saves throughout the 90 minutes, denying Sunderland on multiple occasions. His commanding display prevented what could have been a home victory for the hosts.
Sunderland continued to press forward in search of three points. Brobbey managed two shots on target for United but could not find the breakthrough. The home side's attacking efforts remained frustratingly blunt despite their territorial advantage.
As the match entered its final stages, both teams appeared resigned to sharing the points. Cunha received a yellow card in the 90th minute as United defended resolutely. Neither side could muster a decisive moment to claim victory.
The statistics told the story of an evenly contested encounter. Sunderland fired 15 total shots compared to United's 11, with four shots on target versus one. Possession was split almost equally at 51 percent to 49 percent in Sunderland's favor.
This result leaves Sunderland still searching for consistency in their push up the table. United maintain their third-place position but fail to close the gap on the leaders. The draw extends Sunderland's unbeaten run to two matches but represents a missed opportunity to climb the standings.
