United and Amorim get priceless win

Manchester United 2 - 0 Sunderland

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim eased some of the pressure surrounding him with a much-needed victory.

Author | Olivia T

Stadium | Old Trafford

A good atmosphere from the Stretford End

Mason Mount gave United the ideal start, sweeping in after just eight minutes. It was the club’s earliest Premier League goal since Marcus Rashford struck inside two minutes at Ipswich in Amorim’s opening game last November.

Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead with a close-range finish, his second in successive matches, while Amorim was rewarded for handing a debut to £18.1m goalkeeper Senne Lammens with a first clean sheet of the season.

Sunderland thought they had a lifeline just before half-time when awarded a penalty, but a VAR review overturned the decision after confirming Sesko had not caught Trai Hume with a high boot.

READ MORE | Visit Super Local Sports News North East for Sunderland reaction

READ MORE | View from K Stand will have more United analysis 

For a manager whose tenure has been littered with unwanted statistics, Amorim could at last point to a few positives. United recorded a third consecutive home victory for the first time in more than two years and extended their dominance over Sunderland, who have now won only once in 31 visits. Amorim also became the first United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to win his 50th game in charge.

View from Tier 2 at Old Trafford

The final whistle brought a rendition of the supporters’ chant in his honour, a brief moment of reassurance for a coach still working under heavy scrutiny at Old Trafford. One fan told us: "It was nice to just walk out of the stadium with a smile on my face.

Are you Schmeichel in disguise?

Manchester United supporters have never been short of humour.

To liken Senne Lammens, a 23-year-old with just one full senior season in the Belgian Pro League, to one of the club’s most iconic goalkeepers may stretch credibility.

Yet the Stretford End’s chant of "are you Schmeichel in disguise?" late in Lammens’ debut spoke as much to their longing for a reliable alternative to Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana as it did to the newcomer’s promising start.