Manchester United secured their first
Premier League point under Louis van Gaal, but
were still left searching for a first competitive win of
the Dutchman’s reign, after a 1-1 draw away to
Sunderland on Sunday.
United, fresh from their shock 2-1 defeat by
Swansea at Old Trafford on the opening day last
weekend, took a 17th-minute lead at the Stadium of
Light when Juan Mata turned in Antonio Valencia’s
cross.
But former Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell
equalised for Sunderland in the 30th minute when
he headed in Seb Larsson’s corner after evading
marker Robin van Persie.
Gus Poyet’s side caused a huge upset by winning
1-0 at Old Trafford in May as part of a ‘great
escape’ that saw the north-east side avoid
relegation.
But despite the urging of their Uruguayan manager,
Sunderland couldn’t manage a second goal, and nor
could United, with van Gaal having said in midweek
the team would need a “miracle” to win the league
this season.
“The purpose of the game is to create more
chances and score goals,” Van Gaal told BBC Radio
Five.
“We haven’t created more chances, but in the
second half we were more dominant than we were
against Swansea. That’s a plus, but we have to
create more from that dominance.
Sunderland boss Poyet added: “A point is fair, I
think so. We conceded a goal against the run of play
a little bit.
“It’s important we started better than last year
(season) and that was key.”
Earlier, Nacer Chadli scored twice as Tottenham
Hotspur ensured there was no happy return to White
Hart Lane for Harry Redknapp as they beat their
former manager’s Queens Park Rangers side 4-0.
Meanwhile 10-man Hull draw 1-1 at home to Stoke.
Chadli put Spurs ahead in the 12th minute when he
thrashed home Emmanuel Adebayor’s cross from
six yards out.
Defender Eric Dier doubled Spurs’ lead with his
second goal in as many matches when he headed
in Erik Lamela’s corner at the near post on the half
hour.
Tottenham went 3-0 up in the 37th minute.
Argentinian playmaker Lamela was again involved,
his precise pass finding the head of Chadli, who
nodded in from six yards.
- Disappointing -
Rangers did prevent Spurs adding to their tally until
the 65th minute when Togo striker Adebayor side-
footed home from six yards out after a fine run and
cross by Danny Rose.
Victory meant Spurs went to the top of the table as
one of only three sides, with Chelsea and Swansea,
to have won both their opening games.
“I am happy to make two goals and help us to the
win,” said Chadli.
Championship play-off winners QPR — who have
Tottenham great and former England manager
Glenn Hoddle working under Redknapp — have now
lost two out of two following their 1-0 loss at home
to Hull on the opening weekend.
“It’s a very disappointing day obviously. We started
poorly and could have been one down in 30
seconds. We looked like a team of strangers,”
Redknapp said.
“Getting beat here is no different to anywhere else.
It’s just three points. That’s all that matters to me.”
Hull played most of the match a man down when
last man James Chester was sent off in the 14th
minute for bringing down Glenn Whelan on the edge
of the box after being sold short by Jake
Livermore’s poor back-pass.
But Hull still took the lead three minutes before half-
time when Nikica Jelavic scored form close range
after Stoke ‘keeper Asmir Begovic failed to hold a
low shot from Tom Huddlestone.
It seemed the Tigers would hold out for all three
points.
But Stoke equalised six minutes from time when,
after Phil Bardsley hit the inside of the post,
defender Ryan Shawcross did just enough to bundle
the ball over the line, although Hull felt the throw-in
that led to the goal should have gone their way.
“The throw-in was ours and blatantly ours,” said
Hull manager Steve Bruce.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes, who played in the same
Manchester United side as Bruce, added: “The
overriding emotion is frustration because we didn’t
play particularly well. We need to be better than
that.”
Saturday’s matches saw Chelsea underline their
title credentials in a 2-0 win at home to newly-
promoted Leicester, while Arsenal showed
impressive resilience in coming from 2-0 down to
draw 2-2 at Everton.
Elsewhere, Swansea followed up their surprise
victory at Old Trafford with a 1-0 win at home to
newly-promoted Burnley.
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