Sunderland 0 Manchester United 0 - Was Casemiro missed? Zirkzee blows chance, Carrick's changes

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Senne Lammens saved smartly from Noah Sadiki in the opening exchanges with Casemiro,”nothing major” according to Carrick, sorely missed in the midfield. The home fans wanted a penalty in the 20th minute after the ball went close to their former loan star Amad’s hand but the VAR officials stuck with Stuart Attwell’s on-field decision. United finally came to life when Joshua Zirkzee, who struggled throughout, headed over Matheus Cunha’s cross on the stretch but that was as good as it got for Carrick’s team in the opening period. United were better after the interval — they had to be — and Amad was selfless to try and play in Cunha when he should have shot himself. Lammens came to United’s rescue in the 66th minute when Brian Brobbey ran off Harry Maguire but the goalkeeper made a super save to push the shot wide. The outside of the post then denied Lutsharel Geertruida as Sunderland stepped it up once more. Cunha, when he should have scored, was denied by Robin Roefs in added time after brilliant work from Patrick Dorgu but that would have been harsh on the home side. Laurie Whitwell analyses the talking points from the Stadium of Light. Casemiro was a surprise absentee from the squad, missing his first game since December, when he was suspended. He had started 18 games in a row for United, and there was no indication of any issues during Carrick’s pre-Sunderland press conference, but the Brazilian didn’t travel. United’s head coach told MUTV before kick-off: “He’ll be fine for next week, nothing major.” Casemiro’s exit this summer has long been announced, and repeatedly confirmed as the weeks have gone on with his form provoking fans to chant, “One more year”. But by missing this game he rendered the clause in his contract, which The Athletic revealed in January, obsolete. Had he started 35 games this season he could have triggered an extra year, on his full £350,000 per week deal now United are in the Champions League. He was on course to do that, but he can now only reach 34 starts. It is a moot point, perhaps, with an agreement reached between him and the club about his future. He has been talking to other clubs, his position bolstered by being a free agent, and Inter Miami are keen to take him to the MLS. His absence here gave United a peek of life after he goes, and what might be needed from whichever midfielder(s) they sign when the market opens. Carrick selected Mason Mount in Casemiro’s position, a player with a significantly different skillset. Despite Casemiro being seen as one of the world’s best No 6s, Kobbie Mainoo has been the deeper midfielder in recent weeks, with the 34-year-old often getting forwards in search of scoring. Replacing his eight Premier League goals, all headers, will be tough for United, and Carrick’s side were not as threatening from their set pieces. In open play against Sunderland Mainoo was the player to drop into the backline to start attacks, with Mount pushing on as Casemiro would. His best moment came last in the first half when he won possession high, giving United a four on three attack, only for Zirkzee to waste the chance. It was little surprise when Mount picked up a yellow card early in the second half for a foul on Omar Alderete, he had been snapping into tackles all match, nailing one excellent tackle on Enzo Le Fee in a dangerous moment, but also fouling Trai Hume on the edge of the box. Zirkzee was starting his first game under Carrick, having last done so for United under Ruben Amorim in December, and while a degree of match rust would be understandable, he delivered a poor performance. He was starting because Benjamin Sesko had not recovered enough from the shin injury he exacerbated against Liverpool. There might have been the appeal, from a club executive perspective, of putting Zirkzee in the shop window. Zirkzee is set to be a player United will listen to offers for in summer, to boost funds for signings, but this display will not form a part of their sales pitch. Just before the half hour mark, Zirkzee adapted well to a cross by Cunha but couldn’t get his header on target. But he cut a disinterested figure at other times. His most egregious moment came when Mount put him through on the right for a four-on-three, only for him to hit the first man. He should have picked out Amad, Mount, or Bruno Fernandes. He was booked for hauling down Alderete after the break and was Carrick’s first substitute on 65 minutes, coming off for Patrick Dorgu, with Cunha going from left wing to centre-forward. It was interesting that Carrick did not turn to Bryan Mbeumo at that time. United have picked up more points than any other Premier League side since Carrick’s appointment, and whether he now becomes the permanent head coach is the big question at the club. The mood music has sounded good for that eventuality in recent weeks, with Carrick involved in planning meetings and Champions League qualification secured. This game will not go down among the highlights of his interim spell, however. It was a grind for United in the swirling rain, with Sunderland much the more threatening side. Lammens was excellent, saving early from Sadiki when one-on-one, and also pushing Brobbey’s firm close-range hit away from trouble. In the closing period Geertruida hit the post with a shot on the slide. That came from a lay off from Brobbey, who caused United all kinds of problems with his physicality and hold-up play. Brobbey was a player Erik ten Hag wanted to bring to United when he was manager and here he showed why. Sadiki’s chance, from Enzo Le Fee’s pass, was triggered by Brobbey luring Maguire out before popping the ball off. Brobbey also teed up Geertruida’s strike. United struggled to get a grip of Sunderland’s movement and aggression, and at one point in the first half the home team had enjoyed 19 touches in the opposition box, compared to one for Carrick’s side. United failed to have a shot on target, Amad going closest with an effort that went wide from a free-kick Fernandes took short. But at least they kept a clean sheet, only their seventh of the campaign. Their first came in October on Lammens’ debut against Sunderland at Old Trafford. It was United’s first 0-0 of the season. Carrick’s call to select Lisandro Martinez instead of Ayden Heaven, who has started United’s last three wins, was interesting. Martinez’s passing, it appeared, being ranked higher than the height Heaven offers at set pieces. We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference. Sunday, May 17: Nottingham Forest (Away), Premier League, 1230pm UK, 730am ET Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms