Wayne Rooney leaps to defence of Manchester United manager David Moyes A fortnight ago, Sunderland players deposed their manager Paolo Di Canio following a dressing-room mutiny, so Rooney could not have chosen a better venue to display ­United's solidarity. The victory here helped, too. After back-to-back Premier League defeats condemned United to their worst start to a season in 24 years, this was an ideal response. Sunderland may be bottom of the league and winless, but their performance would have been good enough to beat most sides in the division. United were outplayed in the first half, Sunderland's tenacity epitomised by their midfield general Lee Cattermole, their threat in attack illustrated by the energy of Italian forward Emanuel Giaccherini. Had David De Gea not clawed away a Giaccherini header after Craig Gardner had given Sunderland the lead, United may well have lost this match. "David's save was one of the best I have ever seen," Moyes said. It was an incredible save and I said it straight away to the bench. It was amazing, it really was. That was a turning point. I didn't think we deserved to be losing, but if we had gone 2-0 down it would have left us with a mountain to climb and would have given Sunderland a great boost. Instead, as Sunderland tired in the second half, United reminded us why they have been so successful. The fightback was controlled, but they forced their will on the game, scored twice and then shut down Sunderland's offence. Their two goals came from the boot of the 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj, whose performance on his first Premier League start must rank alongside the very best United debutants. Even before he scored - the first a side-footed finish from a Patrice Evra cross, the second a phenomenal volley from the edge of the area - Januzaj had been United's best player. A new hope from the Academy to go with fresh hope Ferguson's retirement will not cause United's empire to crumble. Moyes's only cause for concern was Marouane Fellaini, who on Monday will have an X-ray on a wrist injury that could rule the midfielder out for up to a month. Sunderland's ambitions are rather more modest. Their only concern will be survival because Di Canio has left them in a mess. The first-choice XI is weaker now than it was in May and the new manager, who should be unveiled this week, will have a huge task on his hands. They won plaudits for their performance, but crucially no points. Former Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick has joined Gus Poyet and Rene Mulensteen on the interviewed list and caretaker manager Kevin Ball, who will return to his old coaching role at the Academy if he is, as expected, overlooked for the per­manent role, feels there are ­encouraging signs. What I keep saying to the players is that the coming together isn't just for now. It should be forever," Ball said. It should underpin the whole of this club, a philosophy, a legacy if you want to call it that.