Match Preview: Sunderland v Manchester United — Let’s Get Behind The Lads For The Final Three!

[ASFN Admin]

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A general view of Stadium of Light ahead of the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur in Sunderland, United Kingdom, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Saturday 9th May 2026​

Sunderland v Manchester United – Premier League​

Stadium of Light – Kick-Off: 15:00​

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Tickets & Match Coverage​

Tickets: Tickets are sold out.

TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is unavailable.

Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)

Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.sbnation.com!

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The build-up…​

It’s funny because when I think of Manchester United coming to town, I immediately think we’ve done well against them. My memory goes straight back to Gary Bennett turning into Diego Maradona at Roker Park in 1990 and Reidy’s Sunderland beating Fergie’s United in the last season at Roker Park – but our record at home against them is crap.

This century, we’ve taken them on fourteen times in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light – we’ve won just once and only drawn three. I’m sure you’re already casting your mind back to that game we won back in February 2016 – just over a decade ago(!) – when Big Sam orchestrated a 2-1 win over Van Gaal’s United.

Anyway, now we’ve got that out of the way, we can get on to some positives.

For a start, Le Bris said during the week that only long-term absentee Romain Mundle, along with Vidal Sassoon wannabee, Dan Ballard, are unavailable for selection today – which means he has plenty of options. Thinking back to the game at Old Trafford, Le Bris changed the shape during the game for the better, but unfortunately, we’d already gone behind.

So that’s one positive. Another is the fact that although United’s form is generally good under Michael Carrick, he still appears to be finding a way of playing away from home. In the last five on the road, they have beaten Everton & Chelsea, but only drew against West Ham and Bournemouth, and suffered defeat up the road against the Visitors.

It’s the penultimate home game, only three fixtures left in total, five points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses. Hit it.

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The betting…​

The bookies have the Lads at 14/5 to win the game. United are 17/20 to take all three points, and the draw is 13/5.

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Head to head…at Sunderland​

(All competitions)

• Sunderland wins: 30
• Draws: 19
• United wins: 23
• Sunderland goals: 130
• United goals: 99

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Last time we met…at the Stadium of Light​

Saturday 9th December 2017​

Championship​

Sunderland 0-3 Manchester United​

[Larsson sent off 43’ – Ibrahimovic 30’, Mkhitaryan 46’, Rashford 89’]

Sunderland: Pickford, Jones, Kone, Denayer, Oviedo (Manquillo), Larsson, Cattermole (Borini), Ndong, Rodwell, Anichebe, Defoe Substitutes not used: Mannone, Djilobodji, Gibson, Pienaar, Khazri

Manchester United: Romero, Darmian, Shaw (Blind), Pogba, Bailly, Rojo, Herrera, Fellaini, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan (Martial), Lingard (Rashford)Substitutes not used: Pereira, Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, Carrick

Attendance: 43,779

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Prediction…​

Sunderland 1-1 Manchester United​

Last time out at the Stadium of Light, we played Forest, so you’d expect the players to be up for putting that right. United are in good form, so going for a score-draw.

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