SUNDERLAND remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League after their winless start to the Premier League season extended to seven matches.

Despite an improved defensive display from the Black Cats in the first half at Old Trafford, Manchester United gained the upperhand with a stoppage-time opener from Memphis Depay at the end of the first half.

And Sunderland could find no way back against a side which has climbed to the top of the table courtesy of these three points, just a couple of hours after previous leaders Manchester City lost heavily at Tottenham.

United’s second arrived immediately after the restart when Wayne Rooney ended an 11-game drought with a close-range finish and then Juan Mata completed the 3-0 win in the last minute of the game.

Sunderland, initially naming Fabio Borini as a one striker ahead of Jermain Defoe, had their moments themselves before the first goal went in; most notably when goalkeeper David de Gea had to deny Jeremain Lens a goal with his legs.

Manchester United did boss the half because of Sunderland’s willingness to gift possession back to the home side almost every time they cleared their lines.

However, the back four unit, which has conceded 18 goals in the first half of matches this season, actually did its job pretty well – until the breakthrough arrived late in the first half.

On the few occasions that Manchester United did get in to good positions they wasted them, until Mata intervened when he did.

Daley Blind’s searching diagonal ball was volleyed first time across the face of the goal by Mata. Depay charged in and converted from close-range ahead of Billy Jones’ outstretched legs.

And, after the half-time teamtalks, Rooney made it two just 38 seconds after the restart. He bundled Anthony Martial’s cross over the line after he had worked his way beyond Younes Kaboul to get to the byline.

There were a couple of scares for Manchester United, but de Gea was equal to efforts from Ola Toivonen and Patrick van Aanholt. Those saves, again with his legs, paved the way for a strong United finish.

And the third arrived in the last minute when the lively Mata, after teeing up the first two, side-footed a finish high in to Pantilimon’s net after Ashley Young had picked him out.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind (Jones 74), Darmian; Schneiderlin, Carrick (Schweinsteiger 68); Mata, Rooney, Memphis (Young 77); Martial. Subs (not used): Romero (gk), Herrera, Fellaini, Pereira.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon; Jones, Kaboul, O’Shea, van Aanholt; Cattermole; Johnson (Fletcher 46), M’Vila, Toivonen (Larsson 70), Lens; Borini. Subs (not used): Gomez, Defoe, Yedlin, Coates, Mannone (gk).

HOW SUNDERLAND FANS REACTED ON TWITTER:

Daniel ‏@dan429366  

"I simply can't fathom how #safc can lose all the fight and grit that they showed towards the end of last season. Players attitude? (Again)"

Jsdftm04 ‏@Safc1879_  

"What you do Dick reet, is play Borini up front at Old Trafford against two centre backs & schneiderlin. Then moan he didn't hold it up #safc"

Jordan maloy ‏@MaloyJordan  

"Absolutely grim when the three promoted teams are better than you . Already getting cut adrift... #SAFC"

Jonny ‏@twistedreel  

"I just want to give Costel Pantilimon a hug, a cup of tea and a foil shock blanket and tell him none of this is his fault #safc"