Manchester United are leading Sunderland 1-0 at the break in their Premier League game at the Stadium of Light.

The Red Devils were in control of the match right from the start and could have surged ahead after just four minutes had striker Robin van Persie's header on goal been more powerful to trouble Black Cats goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Mignolet was forced into making another save eight minutes later, rushing off his line to keep out an effort from Alexander Buttner.

United eventually broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when Van Persie cut in from the left and whipped the ball across the Sunderland goal and Titus Bramble inadvertently put it into his own net.

Van Persie himself could have doubled Sir Alex Ferguson's side's lead before the half-time interval had Mignolet not kept out his powerful free kick from 20 yards.