FOR the opening 40 minutes at the Stadium of Light, one side dominated by playing the sort of free-flowing football that has become Manchester United's hallmark in more than a decade of success - but this time Sir Alex Ferguson's team were on the receiving end.

Sunderland, increasingly accustomed to their title as the hard luck story on their return to the Premiership, completely overran a United team with neat passing and only some fine goalkeeping from Edwin van der Sar stopped them from taking the lead.

But, as has been the norm for the Black Cats so far, one momentary lapse in concentration proved costly and all their hard work was completely undone by one fleeting first half counter-attack from a Wayne Rooney-inspired United.

With Sunderland looking the only side likely to score, they went in search of the opening goal before the half-time break and their over-adventure ended with the game being completely turned around.

Winger Andy Welsh, playing against the club he supported as a boy, relinquished possession to defender John O'Shea in the United area. Then, within seconds, O'Shea fed Ruud van Nistelrooy whose quick pass found Ji-Sung Park on the left and the South Korean picked out the unmarked Rooney.

Rooney burst through and, although his second touch was not perfect, he rounded goalkeeper Kelvin Davis before guiding his shot goalwards and, despite Justin Hoyte's best efforts on the line, United were in front.

It was harsh on Sunderland but it also acted as another reminder to the Sunderland squad of the level of performance that is required for the whole duration of a Premiership fixture.

In the Championship last season a similar scenario could well have gone unpunished, but against the standard of the United forward line there is simply no room for complacency.

But manager Mick McCarthy, heartened by another impressive showing from his squad that again resulted in them ending Saturday night pointless, maintains that attack was the best form of defence against one of the biggest club's in the world.

"Maybe I should have adopted a defensive system and we might have won, but I don't think so," said McCarthy, who played a 4-4-2 formation without a defensive midfielder.

"I'd hate to be in the Premier League for 38 games, to have sat back, not had a go and not to have given my players the license to express themselves against the best players in the league and then get relegated.

"Do I go out and try not to score, not to entertain? We have to have a go. If we get 20 draws we're not going to stay up and on a different day, without an inspired keeper, we would have scored more."

It was exactly that philosophy that should have been rewarded with at least the lead during Sunderland's fantastic first half display.

As well as defending strongly, epitomised by the way Hoyte outmuscled Rooney as the two chased the ball, opportunities for Sunderland to edge in front were created just not taken.

The best of them was when Gary Breen's perfect near post header from Liam Lawrence's corner was incredibly pushed onto the woodwork by van der Sar as the near 40,000 crowd prepared to scream goal.

Striker Stephen Elliott fired wide on one occasion after being afforded space when Tommy Miller beat Alan Smith to the loose ball just outside the United area.

Welsh had the easiest of the chances but wasted it. A poor first touch at the back post allowed Van der Sar to come out and gather at the Mancunian's feet after he had been picked out unmarked by Lawrence.

United only went close to scoring on two occasions during that time. Paul Scholes fired well wide while Nyron Nosworthy, who shone against the threat of former Young European Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, blocked a Van Nistelrooy effort that looked destined to fly in.

But United have not become such a household name in world football for nothing and they never really looked like surrendering their lead after Rooney had put them in front.

And they doubled their advantage 14 minutes from time when England's boy wonder fed Van Nistelrooy with a perfectly weighted through ball. The Dutchman's low right-foot strike found its way into Davis' bottom right corner.

"When a manager of the standing and knowledge of Sir Alex Ferguson spends £27m on someone, it doesn't really matter what I think of him, does it," said McCarthy, after witnessing Rooney providing the difference between the two sides.

"I can wax lyrical, but I can't articulate £27m however I try. The fact England are relying on him to win the World Cup also tells you about the man so why should I bother my backside about him. I don't want to say too many nice things about him. He's annoyed me anyway, because he's scored against us."

After Elliott had reduced the arrears with his first Premiership goal that oozed class, Rooney was also involved in the third that put the blocks on a Sunderland comeback.

It was Rooney's pass to substitute Giuseppe Rossi that led to the Italian striking a 25-yard effort that deflected off the unfortunate Breen into Davis' net.

But while most of the country start to talk about Old Trafford's latest 18-year-old goalscoring sensation, McCarthy praised his young forward Elliott for finally breaking his top-flight duck with a perfect 20-yard left foot strike that flew into van der Sar's top right corner.

"I'm delighted for him," said McCarthy, whose side have now dropped back into the relegation zone after working so hard to climb out of it. "He had the self belief last year in the Championship and hopefully that will lift him now."

United's fourth away win of the campaign may have been harder to achieve than the scoreline suggests, but even with all Sunderland's endeavour they are still searching for the elusive first home win since their return to the Premiership.

Result: Sunderland 1, Manchester United 3.

Read more about Sunderland here.