Wayne Rooney ends drought against Sunderland as Manchester United go top

Manchester United will end the current Premier League round top for the first time since Six Alex Ferguson left the team as champions in May 2013 following this stroll of a victory. United have led the competition three times since Ferguson retired, but only due to playing before other sides and were subsequently overtaken. Now, Louis van Gaal’s team will spend at least a week as the leaders and as Wayne Rooney ended his league drought on 999 minutes with United’s second this was a satisfying day all round.

Given Manchester City’s September capitulation – they are to close the month with one league victory – and Chelsea’s struggles, United deserve to be at the summit and to be taken seriously as contenders to claim a 21st title.

This was a game Van Gaal’s men might have claimed by a larger margin given their near-total domination. In Daley Blind and the ever-convincing Anthony Martial the men in red had the contest’s outstanding players.

Martial’s first contribution was some dazzling footwork that drew a free-kick to the right of the visitors’ penalty area. Juan Mata swung this in but failed to clear the first man and the ball was hit away.

When Memphis Depay took possession near Costel Pantilimon’s goal moments later he had a chance to display the balletic touch of Martial but failed and another opportunity was spurned.

Sunderland began like a team who were bottom and winless and who would end the afternoon with these facts unchanged. As the quarter-hour passed Dick Advocaat’s side had barely kept United out of their half. Younès Kaboul perhaps offered a snapshot of why Sunderland are in peril on 21 minutes. From the left, with no pressure on him, the French centre-back whacked the ball straight out.