SUNDERLAND moved up to within a point of climbing out of the Premier League relegation zone courtesy of Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri’s first goals for the club.

The two transfer window signings, who cost a combined £14m, scored in each half to seal a first home win over Manchester United in the league for almost 20 years.

Khazri’s third minute free-kick paved the way for an entertaining Sunderland performance which was capped off by Kone’s headed winner eight minutes from time.

And even though Anthony Martial had cancelled out Khazri’s opener six minutes before the break, the Black Cats held on to claim a deserved and much-needed three points.

Sunderland, who had to make two changes to the Liverpool starting line-up because of injuries to Duncan Watmore and Billy Jones, were relieved when Jermain Deofe passed a late fitness test.

And he was involved in the earlier opener when his attempt to flick Khazri’s free-kick goalwards failed to make contact. That distracted goalkeeper David de Gea and he had too much ground to make up as the delivery curled in off the inside of the far post.

That proved to be the start of a strong game from Khazri, who was a danger every time he attacked full-back Matteo Darmian, particularly when Patrick van Aanholt joined in with the attacks.

There were a few further scares before half-time for the visiting defence, but Chris Smalling tended to be in the right place at the right time to prevent a second.

But Manchester United – who had not lost in the league on Wearside since 1997 - gradually gained greater control in the first half and Juan Mata was instrumental behind striker Wayne Rooney.

Mata had already curled an effort from outside the box into the hands of Vito Mannone before a second led to the equaliser six minutes before half-time.

The Spanish playmaker’s low first time strike from 18 yards was well saved by Mannone down to his right but Martial reacted quickest and dinked a clever finish over the keeper from a tight angle.

Sunderland started the second half on the front foot and came close to edging back ahead ten minutes in. Lee Cattermole sent van Aanholt away with a brilliant pass down the left channel and the Dutchman’s cross was turned goalwards by Defoe at the near post. Blind somehow, though, got back to turn behind for a corner.

Another Cattermole pass sent Dame N’Doye clear shortly after as well, only this time it was de Gea who was equal to the shot which was saved by the keeper’s right foot.

De Gea also had to be alert when he dived to turn away a Lamine Kone drive from the left side of the box which headed for the top corner, as Sunderland looked for the second goal which much of their play warranted.

And it arrived with eight minutes remaining. Kone, the inspired £5m man from Lorient, was allowed to rise unchallenged in the box and his downward header from Khazri’s corner squirmed beneath and beyond de Gea. Manchester United pushed in the closing stages to try to level once more, but Mannone was equal to a drive from Memphis and that was as much as they could muster up against a resilient home defence.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, O’Shea, van Aanholt; Kirchhoff (Rodwell 15); N’Doye, M’Vila, Cattermole (Toivonen 85), Khazri; Defoe (Borini 70). Subs: Pickford (gk), Brown, Matthews, Honeyman.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Darmian (Love 38), Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson; Schneiderlin (Keane 83), Carrick; Martial, Mata, Lingard (Memphis 61); Rooney. Subs (not used): Romero (gk), Herrera, Pereira, Weir.