Manchester United's lack of balance saw them fall to a shocking 2-1 loss to relegation battlers Sunderland.

Anthony Martial scored late in the first half with a wonderful composed dink over Vito Mannone after Wahbi Khazri's third-minute opener, a fortunate free kick.

Khazri's cross turned shot when Jermaine Defoe couldn't flick it goalwards, and the ball bounced past David de Gea.

United ended the first 45 minutes well and looked the team in the ascendancy but after the break, lapses in their makeshift defence saw them go down once more as Sunderland dominated.

United predictable in shocking loss

Lamine Kone struck a powerful header with less than ten minutes remaining. David de Gea deflected it into his own goal, symbolising the constant errors in a woeful United performance.

Mata, Carrick and Rooney in frustration after Kone's winner | Photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United
Mata, Carrick and Rooney in frustration after Kone's winner | Photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United

Louis van Gaal will have immense pressure build on him once more as this loss puts them at least six points behind 4th placed Manchester City, with all teams above them still to play this weekend.

2016 had been good to United following the atrocious December in which they were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League and suffered losses to Norwich City and AFC Bournemouth.

Van Gaal had appeared to change his side's ways, allowing them more freedom as confidence built with consecutive wins. Wayne Rooney had returned to form, but against Sunderland, he too was terrible.

Morgan Schneiderlin replaced much lambasted Marouane Fellaini with van Gaal claiming the latter had played too much and was at risk of injury. Yet perhaps his presence at set pieces was missed for United, within just three minutes.

A scrappy start to the game from both sides was signified in the style of the opening goal from Khazri. Sam Allardyce's winter window signing curled the ball from the left flank at a free kick, in what seemed like a standard free kick routine with Jermaine Defoe, who looked not to be fit to play yesterday, running towards the path of the ball, away from his marker.

Pressure back on van Gaal as United fall 6 points behind top 4

Yet for some reason, Anthony Martial was marking Sunderland's most dangerous player and while Defoe missed it, Martial couldn't get a foot to tip it away. The ball bounced twice, evading the large group in the box, whom De Gea could not see past as Khazri ran away in celebration, almost certainly surprised.

United, such was the poor quality nature of the game, almost leveled things immediately. Carrick stormed forward and captain Rooney tried to wait until the ball was perfectly bouncing, allowing his marker to snatch it away.

Van Gaal, as always, has excuses. The Dutchman has managed to refrain the huge pressure on his shoulders from falling on his players during a terrible season, and he will have to do again. As so often this injury, he can now discuss injuries. Jan Kirchoff left the field early on, leaving former-Manchester City man Jack Rodwell to be in charge of protecting the league's worst defence. United had their issues too, and once more the full-back curse struck. Matteo Darmian, who had returned from injury to a brilliant spell of form, landed painfully on his left shoulder and is likely to be out for two months, leaving United with the options of Guillermo Varela or Donald Love, who replaced Darmian for his debut at 21 years old.

United responded well, but scrappiness was retained. After months of dull, monotonous football where United were excellently defensively and brilliant at keeping possession, this performance signalled the change in their style. United fans may be enjoying the larger focus on attacking football from van Gaal, yet defensive frailties now exist and keeping possession is a struggle. 

Too often, easy passes were wasted and it was left to the magic of Anthony Martial or the full-backs to provide chances. Martial's footwork was excellent consistently but his crosses were intercepted by a surprisingly solid Sunderland defence, crowded constantly in the penalty area.

Juan Mata had an excellent, powerful first-time strike easily caught by Mannone after good work from Martial and Rooney while Michael Carrick had a shot deflected after more excellence from Martial.

Yet still, despite United improving, Sunderland's early goal gave them confidence and they pressed with energy, not allowing United time to complete their usual possession football.

Martial's great goal symbolises season in another poor performance

United were too predictable and that is why it took so long for their methods to work. For too long, the only option was the ball around the edge of the box, before going wide. Finally, it worked with Martial. The French striker cut inside from his left flank, saw his shot parried but with the instinct that has excited United fans in a bad season, continued running forward, latched onto Juan Mata's parried effort, composed himself quickly and dinked the ball over Mannone from a near-impossible angle.

Anthony Martial celebrates his beautiful goal | Photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United
Anthony Martial celebrates his beautiful goal | Photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United

United responded to getting back into the game worse than their opposition. Sunderland were more aggressive, more determined to leap closer to safety than United were to gently move closer to the Champions League places.

Sunderland were rewarded for their better efforts, their better quality as they took the lead for the second time, and for the second time with a fortunate goal. Yet very few would argue they did not deserve this win. United were outplayed and what is most striking is that no one is surprised. 

The squad was distinctly average, the play replicated that description and this season has been distinctly average. Lamina Kone's header thumped into the ground, David de Gea fell on top of it and squeezed it into his own net, and United cannot complain it was not deserved as they fall further and further away in the race for top four.

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About the author
Harry Robinson
Deputy Editor-in-Chief at VAVEL UK, and Manchester United Editor.