English Premier League Half Time Report:
Sunderland and Manchester United play out a bore draw
Score-line: 0-0
Venue: Stadium of Light
Starting XI for Sunderland: Simon Mignolet, Phil Bardsley, Michael Turner, Nedum Onuoha, Titus Bramble, Lee Cattermole, Boudewijn Zenden, Steed Malbranque, Jordan Henderson, Ahmed ElMohamady, Darren Bent
Subs: Craig Gordon, John Mensah, Paulo Da Silva, Anton Ferdinand, Andy Reid, Asamoah Gyan, Cristian Riveros
Starting XI for Manchester United: Edwin Van Der Sar, John O’ Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Rafael, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Macheda, Owen
Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Smalling, Gibson, Bebe, Hernandez, Berbatov
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson chose an unusual looking starting XI for this crunch encounter against Sunderland. The manager decided to bench Evra and Berbatov while giving Michael Owen and Federico Macheda their
first league start of the season. The deserving Javier Hernandez, who got the midweek winner against Valencia, found himself surprisingly on the bench. Yet, no one can argue with Sir Alex Ferguson, who has decided to play Fletcher on the wing. The Brazilian
midfielder Anderson has only just made it back from his long term injury and partnered Paul Scholes in the midfield. John O’Shea takes over in the left-back position from Evra.
There was delay in the kick off at the Stadium of light owing to a water leak in the Manchester United dressing room. It was not a good omen for the visiting side and the kick off was late by 20 minutes. A nervy display was seen
by Manchester United in the opening proceedings. Sunderland kept on attacking without a goal and got a brilliant one on one opportunity to find the opening goal. Yet, Manchester United managed to keep things level at the break and substitutions can be expected
in the form of Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez
Manchester United have looked nervy and edgy and have had just one shot on target - compared to six by Sunderland. Sunderland also won 8 corners as compared to 1 for Manchester United. The Black Cats defence hasn’t been troubled
by any of the forwards for the Red Devils.
At half time, the score was tied and both the managers would have a lot to say to their players.
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