Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo underline Man Utd firepower that gives Michael Carrick a platform to build on | Football News

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate uses a blend of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week:

• Man Utd forwards into double figures
• Sunderland’s second-half sensations
• Brighton’s record missed chances

Man Utd’s extra firepower delivers

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both took their Premier League goal tallies for the season to 10 in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. The pair join another summer signing Benjamin Sesko in bringing up double figures for the campaign.

The last time that United had three players hit that mark in a Premier League season was five years ago when they finished second under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That was the season in which they scored the most goals since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Firepower makes a difference. It has secured third spot for United and delivered the return of Champions League football. Their defensive record has been similar to the previous year but it is this goal output that has propelled them 12 places up the table.

After a Premier League low of 44 goals last term, United are up to 66 with a game to spare – a 50 per cent increase for the first time in a top-flight season since the Second World War. It has been achieved despite the new signings being only qualified successes.

Cunha has delivered in the big games after niggling injuries hampered him in the first half of the season. Mbeumo started well but dipped a little after the Africa Cup of Nations. Sesko’s haul is particularly impressive given that he has struggled for minutes. But United are the one team with three players into double figures.

The three men have only started seven Premier League games together. But following Bruno Fernandes’ move back to his natural No 10 position, there should be some optimism for the future because it is a forward line that can complement each other.

Mbeumo and Sesko both rank among the top five in the Premier League for off-the-ball runs per 90 minutes. Cunha’s best work is on the ball, attempting over 100 dribbles – something no United player did last season. He and Fernandes can make things happen.

There will be work for Michael Carrick and United to do in the summer because the return of European football adds greater demands. The midfield must be rebuilt, the defence refreshed. But arguably the most difficult positions to address have been filled.

Senne Lammens has been a revelation in goal and they boast the best playmaker in the Premier League in Fernandes. More will be expected of the front three second time around but what this season shows is that Manchester United have the firepower now.

Sunderland’s second-half specialists

Sunderland lacked a cutting edge during the first half of their game away to Everton on Sunday afternoon before turning things around emphatically after the interval to win 3-1 and put themselves in a strong position to secure European football next season.

Perhaps Everton should have expected it. Despite it being a remarkable return to the Premier League for the Black Cats under Regis Le Bris, no team in the competition has scored fewer goals in the first 45 minutes of matches. They wait before opening up.

Le Bris’ substitutions were a triumph. The early introduction of Luke O’Nien could be included in that, the defender having arguably his best game at this level after coming on for the injured Omar Alderete, but it was the attacking changes that did for Everton.

Chemsdine Talbi for Trai Hume was a positive switch on the hour. A triple substitution after that added impetus. Wilson Isidor, one of the trio to come on, scored the third. No team has won more games when trailing at the break now. Le Bris’ adjustments worked.

“During half-time we agreed it was important to take more risks, even if the game became a bit more unbalanced with transitions. It went well. It is really important to mention the subs, they gave extra energy, more pressing and a bit more composure.”

Having ‘finishers’ who are so engaged is a hallmark of a team that are together. And while there are two ways of looking at a statistic that shows Sunderland score a Premier League high 70 per cent of their goals in the second half, it is clearly working for them.

Brighton make unwanted history

The only team to pick up more points than Sunderland from losing positions at half-time this season are Brighton. Indeed, Fabian Hurzeler’s side rank third in the second-half Premier League table. But they were sucker-punched in a stoppage-time loss at Leeds.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 96th-minute winner was the home side’s first shot on target at Elland Road. Brighton had 19 attempts, their expected goals total of 2.76 being the highest by an away side without scoring in any Premier League match this season.

In fact, you need to go back to a goalless draw for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park over four years ago to find an example of an away team having better chances to score without doing so than Brighton did in this game.

“We did not finish efficiently,” said Hurzeler. “It is all about creating chances and that is what we did, especially in the second half. We have to stay very rational. When you see it from a rational point we should have won the game.” Even so, this could cost them.

Victory would have put the Seagulls in good shape to secure at least sixth spot – and possible Champions League football. Any slip against Manchester United now could see them miss out on European qualification altogether. And left to rue missed chances.