Manchester United picked up their first point of the new Premier League season on Sunday with a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland.

The visitors took the lead on 16 minutes when Juan Mata arrived in the box to tap in Antonio Valencia's cross.

However, Sunderland secured a share of the spoils with half an hour played as Jack Rodwell headed in Sebastian Larsson's corner.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two teams at the Stadium of Light.

Match statistics

Sunderland
Shots: 11
On target: 3
Possession: 45%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 10

Man Utd
Shots: 10
On target: 3
Possession: 55%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 15

Was the result fair?

While Manchester United enjoyed more of the ball, a lack of imagination up front meant that they rarely troubled Sunderland. Meanwhile, the hosts did enough to come away with a deserved share of the spoils.

Sunderland's performance

Black Cats boss Gus Poyet should take plenty of encouragement from the shift that his team put in. They stifled their opponents for long periods due to a dogged defensive display, while they attacked with lots of potency and posed United a few problems on more than one occasion.

Sunderland endured a torrid season last term, but things look different this year. The players appear to be more fearless, and the new signings have bedded in well. More of the same for the rest of the campaign and Poyet will be a happy man.

Man Utd's performance

Following on from last weekend's defeat to Swansea City, this was another tepid showing from the Red Devils. Louis van Gaal's side defended well, even though it was another makeshift back three that he put out, but it was in attack where they lacked any dynamism.

Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young provided little for their team out wide, and the strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie failed to get going. Special mentions should also go to Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher for ineffective displays in the heart of the midfield There is still lots of work to do for Van Gaal, though it could well be a different story when he has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Lee Cattermole:

The Sunderland midfielder gave everything on the pitch as he anchored his team's midfield. Cattermole linked defence and attack superbly and also showed the confidence to get forward on his own. His rejuvenation continues under Gus Poyet.

Biggest gaffe

Ashley Young did himself no favours in the second half when he got booked for going down too easily under a challenge from John O'Shea. The winger insisted that he was fouled, but Martin Atkinson was having none of it.

Referee performance

Martin Atkinson put in an assured display during what was a fair match between the teams. His two key decisions - booking Young for diving, denying United a penalty following a possible foul on Van Persie - were both called correctly.

What next?

Sunderland: The Black Cats are in League Cup action on Wednesday when they travel to Birmingham City.

Man Utd: United start their League Cup campaign on Tuesday with a trip to MK Dons.