Van Gaal’s wait for league win goes on

Manchester United
secured their first Premier League
point under Louis van Gaal, but
were still left searching for a first
competitive win of the Dutchman’s
reign, after a 1-1 draw away to
Sunderland on Sunday.
United, fresh from their shock 2-1
defeat by Swansea at Old Trafford
on the opening day last weekend,
took a 17th-minute lead at the
Stadium of Light when Juan Mata
turned in Antonio Valencia’s cross.
But former Manchester City
midfielder Jack Rodwell equalised
for Sunderland in the 30th minute
when he headed in Seb Larsson’s
corner after evading marker Robin
van Persie.
Gus Poyet’s side caused a huge
upset by winning 1-0 at Old
Trafford in May as part of a ‘great
escape’ that saw the north-east
side avoid relegation.
But despite the urging of their
Uruguayan manager, Sunderland
couldn’t manage a second goal,
and nor could United, with van
Gaal having said in midweek the
team would need a “miracle” to
win the league this season.
“The purpose of the game is to
create more chances and score
goals,” Van Gaal told BBC Radio
Five.
“We haven’t created more chances,
but in the second half we were
more dominant than we were
against Swansea. That’s a plus,
but we have to create more from
that dominance.
Sunderland boss Poyet added: “A
point is fair, I think so. We
conceded a goal against the run of
play a little bit.
“It’s important we started better
than last year (season) and that
was key.”
Earlier, Nacer Chadli scored twice
as Tottenham Hotspur ensured
there was no happy return to White
Hart Lane for Harry Redknapp as
they beat their former manager’s
Queens Park Rangers side 4-0.
Meanwhile 10-man Hull draw 1-1
at home to Stoke.
Chadli put Spurs ahead in the 12th
minute when he thrashed home
Emmanuel Adebayor’s cross from
six yards out.
Defender Eric Dier doubled Spurs’
lead with his second goal in as
many matches when he headed in
Erik Lamela’s corner at the near
post on the half hour.
Tottenham went 3-0 up in the
37th minute.
Argentinian playmaker Lamela was
again involved, his precise pass
finding the head of Chadli, who
nodded in from six yards.
- Disappointing -
Rangers did prevent Spurs adding
to their tally until the 65th minute
when Togo striker Adebayor side-
footed home from six yards out
after a fine run and cross by Danny
Rose.
Victory meant Spurs went to the
top of the table as one of only
three sides, with Chelsea and
Swansea, to have won both their
opening games.
“I am happy to make two goals
and help us to the win,” said
Chadli.
Championship play-off winners
QPR — who have Tottenham great
and former England manager Glenn
Hoddle working under Redknapp —
have now lost two out of two
following their 1-0 loss at home to
Hull on the opening weekend.
“It’s a very disappointing day
obviously. We started poorly and
could have been one down in 30
seconds. We looked like a team of
strangers,” Redknapp said.
“Getting beat here is no different to
anywhere else. It’s just three
points. That’s all that matters to
me.”
Hull played most of the match a
man down when last man James
Chester was sent off in the 14th
minute for bringing down Glenn
Whelan on the edge of the box
after being sold short by Jake
Livermore’s poor back-pass.
But Hull still took the lead three
minutes before half-time when
Nikica Jelavic scored form close
range after Stoke ‘keeper Asmir
Begovic failed to hold a low shot
from Tom Huddlestone.
It seemed the Tigers would hold
out for all three points.
But Stoke equalised six minutes
from time when, after Phil Bardsley
hit the inside of the post, defender
Ryan Shawcross did just enough to
bundle the ball over the line,
although Hull felt the throw-in that
led to the goal should have gone
their way.
“The throw-in was ours and
blatantly ours,” said Hull manager
Steve Bruce.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes, who
played in the same Manchester
United side as Bruce, added: “The
overriding emotion is frustration
because we didn’t play particularly
well. We need to be better than
that.”
Saturday’s matches saw Chelsea
underline their title credentials in a
2-0 win at home to newly-
promoted Leicester, while Arsenal
showed impressive resilience in
coming from 2-0 down to draw
2-2 at Everton.
Elsewhere, Swansea followed up
their surprise victory at Old
Trafford with a 1-0 win at home to
newly-promoted Burnley