Sunderland were denied a rare victory over Manchester United at the Stadium of Light, with visiting goalie Senne Lammens and the goal frame keeping the hosts at bay.
Noah Sadiki squandered Sunderland’s greatest opportunity as he broke free in the opening minutes.
Lammens emerged victorious on that occasion, before the Belgian valiantly sprinted out to save at Brian Brobbey’s feet and then denied the Dutchman again in the second half.
Brobbey also set up Lutsharel Geertruida in the closing stages, but his shot from the edge of the area struck the foot of a post.
It was unfair on Sunderland on a day when Manchester United made five changes from the team that defeated Liverpool last week and struggled without experienced midfielder Casemiro.
They were on the verge of going without a shot on goal in a Premier League game for the first time since January 2015, but Robin Roefs saved Matheus Cunha’s injury-time attempt.
Sunderland’s victory would have been only their fourth versus United in the previous 34 Premier League encounters, but they avoided a 25th defeat.
Manager Regis le Bris may have had a valid complaint over former Sunderland loanee Amad Diallo’s handling in the home box during the first half, but video assistant referee (VAR) Peter Bankes upheld Stuart Attwell’s on-field decision to wave play on.
Casemiro has garnered a great deal of appreciation for his performances this season.
Manchester United fans have begun shouting “one more year” in the expectation that the Brazilian will extend his tenure at Old Trafford.
It will not happen. His absence this afternoon means that an appearance provision in his contract that would have resulted in an extra year has not been reached, even if it had not been mutually agreed to be removed, and Casemiro will leave at the end of the season.
United made upgrading central midfield their top focus in the summer, and this performance demonstrated why.
Kobbie Mainoo has demonstrated his class since Michael Carrick came over, and Mason Mount is a cunning schemer and a threat in attack.
However, neither reads a game like Casemiro; they do not perceive danger in the same way, nor do they control the flow of a game.
It meant the visitors were unable to maintain possession and generate pressure, and they were constantly exposed to a Sunderland onslaught that might have benefited if they had been more clinical or had not found Lammens in great form.
It’s unclear how many players United will bring in this summer, but two midfielders appear to be a minimum necessity. When skipper Bruno Fernandes is off form, there is a lack of inventiveness, as evidenced by the length of time it took to threaten the Sunderland goal.
Manchester United entertain Nottingham Forest in their final home game of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 May. Sunderland’s last away outing of the campaign is on the same day at Everton.
