Men against boys doesn’t begin to describe Sunderland’s mauling from Manchester United this afternoon. The lads went down four nil in front of a sell out crowd and in truth United could have had many more.

Before kick off Roy Keane made a surprise decision handing youth striker Martin Waghorn his first senior start whilst Kieran Richardson returned to the bench. We set out 4-4-2 with the same back five that started at Reading. In the middle Ross Wallace, Dickson Etuhu, Dwight Yorke and Michael Chopra. Up front Kenwyne Jones partnered the debutant

The lads started half decent and set out to frustrate United the way we did at Old Trafford earlier in the season. However Sunderland always looked vulnerable on the break and after ten minutes Ronaldo started terrorising the Sunderland defence and Higginbotham had to haul him down on the edge of the area. Ronaldo stepped up to hit a powerful free kick which Craig Gordon parried away well.

Sunderland’s best effort of the first half came shortly after and from an unlikely source. Dickson Etuhu turned Michael Carrick in the centre circle before powering forward and shooting wide.

On twenty minutes Manchester took the lead with a great move down the right hand side. Brown played a one two with Ronaldo then played Rooney in one on one. One nil. Looked simple and was too easy.

Ten minutes later the score line was doubled and again the danger came down the right hand side. This time the provider was Ronaldo who teed up Saha for a simple finish. Again it was too easy but showed how ruthless and clinical United can be.

In reply Ross Wallace forced a good save from their keeper but the subsequent corner was defended expertly by Vidic and co. Then in first half injury time Ronaldo made it three. Etuhu had fouled Fletcher giving Ronaldo another direct shot on goal. This time the winker made no mistake and blasted into the top corner past Craig Gordon.

At half time Keane made a change with Leadbitter replacing Wallace. However the way Sunderland came back onto the pitch after the break summed up the afternoon for me. They sluggishly made there way back on and they looked scared whilst Yorke looked nonchalant. No surprise.

Sunderland did have a better spell in the second half but this was mainly due to the fact that United had taken their foot well and truly off the gas. With half hour to go Ronaldo went off and was applauded by both sets of fans.

Jones then had a tame shot which was saved easily. Richardson then came on for Dwight Yorke and though he had a bit more of an impact than Yorke it was still one way traffic.

As we’ve seen in recent weeks Sunderland have a habit of conceding possession but to do it today was criminal. We looked like conceding every time United went forward and Rooney will be kicking himself that he hasn’t gone home with the match ball.

The final nail in the coffin came courtesy of Saha from the penalty spot. Collins tripped Nani in the box, stonewall. A final word on the fans today that unlike the team were magnificent.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 4

ALS Man of the Match: Michael Chopra

Aidan Crowe

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