Sunderland 2 - Man Utd 1: Black Cats pile more pressure on Van Gaal with vital win
LAMINE KONE earned Sunderland a crucial three points in their fight to avoid relegation and pile more pressure on Louis van Gaal at the Stadium of Light.
Kone rose to meet a Wahbi Khazri corner unmarked just eight minutes from time.
Khazri himself scored early for the Balck Cats but Anthony Martial's deft chip levelled the game before half time.
David De Gea's superb save off a Kone strike kept United in it.
But the defender eventually got the best of United's goalkeeper as he powered Sunderland to three valuable points.
United manager Van Gaal made just one change from his XI that drew 1-1 with Chelsea last weekend - Marouane Fellaini rested for Morgan Schneiderlin.
Sam Allardyce handed loanee Dame N'Doye a first start and the Black Cats took the lead just three minutes in through Khazri.
The midfielder swung his free-kick in low from the left and it somehow evaded everyone to bounce past David De Gea and into the bottom corner of the net.
Jermain Defoe could have scored moments later when he bundled through on goal but fluffed his control to prod wide.
United struggled to create much going forward and endured a blow when Matteo Darmian was subbed off midway through the first half with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
The full-back landed awkwardly on his side after colliding with Khazri.
He was replaced by debutant Donald Love and minutes later United levelled against the run of play through Martial.
The France international reacted quickest to a rebound from Juan Mata's shot and expertly chipped over the prone Vito Mannone from a tight angle.
Despite the goal it was Sunderland who remained the brighter side and could have retaken the lead midway through the second half when centre-back Kone forced De tea to tip over the bar.
At the other end Mannone matched a tame Memphis Depay shot as United tried to work their way into the game.
But Sunderland finally got their breakthrough on 82 minutes when Kone got free of his marker to head Khazri's corner under De Gea.
The defeat puts Van Gaal's position at United under more scrutiny as the club failed to make ground in their pursuit of a Champions League place.
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