BBC Sport report here.
It was a terribly nervous start, with both Smalling and Evans, even Rojo giving the ball away. After 20-25 mins, they settled down, and basically camped in Sunderland's half until the break.
Despite this, we only got the breakthrough from a penalty, and only closed out the game after good work from Januzaj down the right.
This game illustrates why Herrera and Blind should start for United every game, if they are fit. In fact, once Carrick is fit, I'd slot him in the centre of defence with Rojo (who is really not great, but the best of our current CBs), and leave Blind as DM.
Rooney should be starting up top as well every game. He's currently the sharpest of our forwards (not saying much), and his brace show he's the better option to Falcao. It's a pity Wilson didn't get a chance, but on current form, Rooney has to start as striker.
Di Maria is clearly struggling but his struggles do not hide the fact that he's our best creative outlet at present. He delivered dangerous crosses, and his dribbling got us free kicks in good areas. Yes, he's being bundled over too easily, and he's losing possession too much, but he needs games, and Mata isn't clearly a better option right now. Chopping and changing isn't going to improve fluidity and understanding amongst our forwards.
Falcao is another matter, though. He is clearly not the player he was, but it's not clear why this is so. It simply can't be his previous knee injury, so it's more likely his confidence that's shot, and him being dropped to the bench every other game surely doesn't help this. His runs area also being mis-timed; there was a great run and cross from Ashley Young (who did a good job last night) into the six yard box that had Falcao's name all over it, but he was at the top of the penalty box instead.
His quality isn't in question - it was a brilliant touch and turn before O'Shea pulled him back, and if not for that foul, he'd have scored a great goal.
van Gaal is right to say Di Maria just needs time to settle, but I'm not too sure about Falcao now. Just a couple of weeks ago, I believed that Falcao at $43m pounds would still be a better buy than anyone else out there, but if Woodward can find another top striker for around $30-35m in the summer, it might represent better value than Falcao at the moment.
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