United's Dressing Room Malfunction

As if overcoming a pepped-up Sunderland side wasn't tough enough, United's pre-match preparations at the Stadium of Light were further complicated by an unlikely setback.

John O'Shea and Edwin van der Sar have confirmed that kick-off was delayed because of a burst sewage pipe in the Reds' dressing room.

In his post-match interview with MUTV, O'Shea laughed: “I think my suit’s in the skip! I think it will have to be burned for health reasons.

"It was a strange smell when we came back in from the warm-up and when we realised what happened, I think about eight or ten suits had to be burned. Thankfully we weren’t sitting down in the dressing room when it happened!”

Edwin van der Sar was also able to see the funny side of events, but it seems unlikely that kitman Albert Morgan was able to immediately derive any jollity from the situation.

"I just came out from my warm-up and they put us in a different room and said 'don't go in the dressing room'," said the Dutchman. "The smell was horrendous, so a lot of lads' suits, washbags and shoes had to be thrown away.

"Albert was struggling to get the shinpads cleaned and everything, but in the end we managed and I think it was a rare moment."