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 City at Old Trafford on the opening weekend, took a 17th-minute lead at the Stadium of Light when Juan Mata turned in a Antonio Valencia cross.
However, former Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell equalized for Sunderland in the 30th minute when he headed in Seb Larsson’s corner after evading marker Robin van Persie.
Photo: AFP
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 northeast side avoid relegation.
However, despite the urging of their Uruguayan manager, Sunderland could not 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.
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 City drew 1-1 at home to Stoke City.
Chadli put Spurs ahead in the 12th minute when he thrashed home an Emmanuel Adebayor cross from 6m out.
Defender Eric Dier doubled Spurs’ lead with his second goal in as many matches when he headed in a Erik Lamela corner at the near post on the half hour.
Tottenham went 3-0 up in the 37th minute.
Argentine playmaker Lamela was again involved, his precise pass finding the head of Chadli, who nodded in from 6m.
Rangers did prevent Spurs adding a goal until the 65th minute, when Togo striker Adebayor side-footed home from close range after a fine run and cross by Danny Rose.
Victory meant Spurs went to the top of the table with Chelsea and Swansea, the only three sides to have won their opening games.
“I am happy to make two goals and help us to the win,” Chadli said.
Championship playoff 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. However, Hull still took the lead three minutes before halftime, when Nikica Jelavic scored form close range after Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic failed to hold a low shot from Tom Huddlestone.
Stoke equalized 6 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,” Hull manager Steve Bruce said.
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