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All eyes had been on Roy Keane's return to his former stomping ground, but it was ultimately a disappointing homecoming for one of Old Trafford's favourite sons as his side fell to the 71st minute goal.

The Irishman's spoiling tactics worked for well over an hour of the contest, only for Saha's header from Nani's near post corner to spoil the day both for Keane and for over 3,000 travelling Black Cats fans.

The Frenchman was brought on at half-time to give the hosts a cutting edge up front after they were frustrated during the opening period by a Sunderland performance that bore many of the hallmarks of Keane's own career as a player.

Gone was the team that capitulated in the Carling Cup midweek; here was a side that was aggressive in the tackle, that bit ankles every time a United player touched the ball, that refused to give up and was difficult to break down.

Despite United's injury and disciplinary problems - Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Park Ji-Sung all missed out through injury and Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended - a wealth of talent was nevertheless on display.

Anderson made his long-awaited debut, joining Paul Scholes, Chris Eagles and Nani is an attack-minded midfield trio in front of Owen Hargreaves and behind Carlos Tevez.

But Sunderland, who played with just new signing Kenwyne Jones up front, were a difficult unit to break down and despite all the potential invention of United's line-up, the teams headed in at the half goalless.

Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon looked particularly solid, saving without fuss from Tevez, Eagles and Scholes in the opening period.

It took a deflection from another Scholes shot to make Gordon look uneasy in between the sticks, although the effort just before half time flew the other side of his right upright.

Alex Ferguson felt his side needed a little bit extra up front during the second half and introduced Saha off the bench at the restart for the ultimately ineffectual Anderson.

And the Frenchman nearly made an immediate impact, controlling a long ball on his chest before shooting goalwards, only to be flagged offside.

Gordon was then brought back into action by a first time Tevez shot before pulling off the best save of the day to deny Saha an equally brilliant volley. Nemanja Vidic came close from the resulting corner, but his own near post volley flashed inches over the bar.

Saha's goal effectively ended the game as a contest, such was Sunderland's impotency going forward, and United could even have notched a second had Hargreaves 79th minute strike flown a few inches the other side of the bar.

Wesley Brown had a strong penalty shout turned down near full time, but referee Martin Atkinson opted to wave play on even though replays later showed the ball to have clearly struck Danny Collins' hand.

But 2-0 would have been unfair on Sunderland and rather too flattering a scoreline for United, who continue to struggle in the attacking third of the pitch.

Saha's return to fitness and the imminent return of Ronaldo from suspension are sure to give United fans some hope, but the bare facts speak volumes - Alex Ferguson's team have failed to score more than once in all five of their Premier League games so far this season.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport