United lucky to salvage a point at Sunderland

Manchester's away league form showed no signs of improving as they were battered for much of the first half and had goalkeeper van der Sar to thank for a draw.

Sunderland 0 // Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Lee Cattermole (Sunderland)

SUNDERLAND // Manchester United's away league form showed no signs of improving yesterday as they were battered for much of the first half at Sunderland and had goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to thank for earning them a point.

United have drawn all four of their away games this season. Yet Sir Alex Ferguson, their manager, pronounced himself content with yesterday's result, at least. "Sunderland had the most chances in the game and I have to say we were fantastic defensively," Ferguson said.

"That's the area in which we have been leaking goals and throwing games away this season, so I am pleased with that. It was a very determined Sunderland team, their home record this season has been very, very good, so I am not pleased but I am satisfied." Ferguson struck a surprise with his team selection. With Wayne Rooney left at home with an ankle injury - though the striker had declared himself fit - the United manager kept Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of six league goals already, and Javier Hernandez, the midweek matchwinner at Valencia, on the bench. In their place were Michael Owen, who equalised in last week's 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers, and Federico Macheda, the young Italian.

It was far from United's strongest attacking line-up, with Patrice Evra also out at left-back, and perhaps therefore no surprise that United struggled to create a chance in the first half. They were dominated by Sunderland, and Van der Sar made a vital save from Steed Malbranque, after the midfielder was played through by Lee Cattermole. Also, Bolo Zenden hit a post from the edge of the area. Said Ferguson: "We had no attacking purpose in the first 25 minutes of the match. It wasn't until towards the end of the first half that we got any semblance of keeping possession of the ball."

Ferguson replaced the ineffectual Michael Owen with Berbatov at half-time and United looked more threatening in the second period as the Bulgarian had a 48th-minute strike correctly ruled out for offside.

United threw on Hernandez and Portuguese prospect Bebe and either side might have snatched victory as the game opened up in the final minutes. Asked about his side's failure to win a league game on the road, Ferguson said: "It's a concern, the first three. I can't class today's as a disappointment because we had to battle to get the point today. But we have thrown the other three away."

Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, had mixed emotions as he looked back on a committed display but also another missed opportunity to win for the first time as a manager against his former club and former boss.

Even a 20-minute delay to the game after a pipe burst in the United dressing room did not dent the visitors' resilience. Sunderland have also drawn against Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks and Bruce said: "With a bit of luck ... we have said that for two or three weeks now. However, if I am going to be critical, we have to probably take one of those chances. Against these teams, you don't get many.

"I have being going for years to try to beat [Ferguson] and I thought today might have been the day. We even tried to sabotage the toilets," he said in jest. "That didn't quite work either." Asked if his side's preparations had been disrupted, Ferguson said: "A little bit, not much. It was just one of those accidents, and the Sunderland staff were fantastic."

* Press Association

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