Manchester United left the pitch victorious and their fans departed the stadium with smiles of relief. Old Trafford a fortnight ago and, judged superficially, you could have looked around the bulging stands, taken in the scene on the grass and thought the red world seemed content following United 2-0 Sunderland.
After all, this was a third consecutive league game won at home, €76m striker Benjamin Sesko scored again (two in a row), and United had kept a first clean sheet of the season. Even the teeming rain of Storm Amy ceased before kick-off.
Overall the mood was approaching upbeat, Mason Mount declared the players’ collective will and that all are behind the manager – “100 per cent”. Then there was new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who impressed many on his debut. And so many want to be impressed.
There were knowing roars of approval every time Lammens caught a cross. He made an important save in the last minutes, too.
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