SENNE LAMMENS enjoyed a dream debut for Manchester United – and even earned a rousing standing ovation for his efforts.
So much so that the Stretford End could be heard singing: “Are you Peter Schmeichel in disguise?”
Senne Lammens enjoyed a dream debut for Man Utd with clean sheet at Old Trafford[/caption]
The Belgian, 23, made some assured high claims and a handful of important stops[/caption]
He received a warm hug from the man he displaced in the starting XI, Altay Bayindir, at full-time[/caption]
After scouting Lammens for more than a year, United signed the rising star from Antwerp for £18.2m on deadline day after a series of errors from both Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana at the start of the season.
The big man himself actually told SunSport his former side had signed the WRONG keeper – and admitted he’d never heard of him.
Schmeichel said: “Lammens could turn out to be the best signing ever – but right now, it feels like a hopeful one, and that’s not what United need at this moment in time.”
But following last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford, Ruben Amorim thought it was the perfect time to give the Belgian his first United appearance against an in-form Sunderland outfit.
United’s 2-0 win eased the pressure on Amorim. And Lammens eased the nerves inside Old Trafford. There were fewer heart in mouth moments on Saturday afternoon.
Mason Mount’s cool opener and Benjamin Sesko’s first home goal saw Lammens enjoy a quiet opening 40 minutes between the sticks.
But the 23-year-old was soon called into his first sniff of action to tip Granit Xhaka’s effort wide. His predecessors might have been caught cold with the same chance.
Minutes later he had the 70,000 home crowd on their feet clapping and roaring when he came out to collect an inswinging Sunderland cross.
For so long, United fans were distrustful of Bayindir and Onana’s ability to come out and claim balls. They are now relieved to see a goalkeeper finally command his area with Onana out on loan at Trabzonspor.
It was the first time the Red Devils have kept a clean sheet this season, with 13 goals conceded in the first six rounds.
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Lammens was vocal, composed with both feet and will be hard to dislodge from the starting XI when United visit Anfield straight after the two week international break.
Amorim said: “He looks confident but the important thing is the team-mates helped Senne have a good game. Everyone was focused, not a lot of mistakes, we did well as a group effort.
“When Senne arrived here, first of all Altay was playing and then he arrived and you can feel he needs to adapt, new country, new training.
“The pressure you guys put on the goalkeeper is massive, now he needs to work, he needs to be prepared that in our club things are hard.”
There was one hairy moment when the stopper chased out of his goal on the angle only to see Bertrand Traore get there first amid some uncertainty with Bruno Fernandes.
Traore was booked for simulation. But as debuts go, this showed what United have been lacking in goal.
Lammens was compared to Man Utd great Peter Schmeichel by fans[/caption]
Lammens’ best save came late in the game when he kept out a Chemsdine Talbi effort with his legs.
The Belgium international was hardly overworked, but there were even bigger cheers when he claimed another cross in stoppage time.
He was lauded as a penalty-expert before moving to Manchester, but dodged facing a spot-kick in the first-half.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty just before half-time but it was overturned after a VAR check confirmed Sesko did not catch Trai Hume in the face with a high boot, as the linesman initially thought.
Lammens received a love-in at the full-time whistle. First by Mattihjs De Ligt’s big bear hug, before Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw embraced him.
He now faces a huge task ahead of him when Amorim’s side visit Arne Slot‘s champions on October 19.
United have conceded 10 goals in their last four Prem games against Liverpool.
While judging Lammens remains vastly premature, the fans believe that he could be the answer to the club’s long-running goalkeeping woes.
MAN UTD RATINGS VS SUNDERLAND: Mount has best United display in Prem but Dalot is weak link against Sunderland
MASON MOUNT and Benjamin Sesko were on target as Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0.
The Red Devils eased the pressure on Ruben Amorim as they bagged a much-needed win.
But who was United’s best player at Old Trafford?
Find out how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the Red Devils here.
