Player Ratings: Sunderland 1 - 2 Middlesbrough

Vito Mannone - 6

Couldn't do anything about the goals and saved well from the feet of Negredo in the second half. Can't have been easy with his back four changing in front of his eyes.

Donald Love - 6

Solid enough but maybe missed O'Shea's influence after he went off. Doesn't looked to have gelled with Januzaj in front of him maybe?

Patrick Van Aanholt - 7

What can you say, still better going forward than defending, and took his goal well. Improved when Gooch moved in field leaving space for him to run into on the wing.

John O'Shea - 5

Unlucky with the injury, hard to say if it would have made a difference if he'd stayed on the field.

Papy Djilobodji - 6

Solid enough debut, if we can find a partner for him, could be a good signing.

Paddy McNair - 5

Covered the pitch well in the first half, but looked like he needs longer to bed in with the team.

Jack Rodwell - 6

Was he at fault for the second goal? Would have to check the replays, but it was a makeshift defence, so leniency is in order. Very little to do in the second half, which is just as well.

Lynden Gooch - 8

Great game from Gooch, always positive, trying to get forward, adapted well to move into midfield. Will do well under Moyes.

Adnan Januzaj - 6

Seems to be a player that does well when everybody else is playing well. Needs to make things happen and inspire those around him. Still glad he's in the team though.

Duncan Watmore - 7

Ran his socks off especially in the second half, but still lacks that final piece of quality. Fair play for the goal though.

Jermain Defoe - 7

Did what he always does but didn't get the service he needed to make the difference. 500th league appearance today.

Subs on:

Jeremain Lens - 7

Brought an intensity to the attack but the final quality was always lacking. Decent performance though, and on another day, could have been the star.

Steven Pienaar - 7

Brought an unflustered maturity to midfield that impressed straight away. We looked a more balanced side as soon as he came on, and his creativity in the second half drove most of our attacks forward. Always wanting the ball, looking to spread play and make things happen.

Joel Asoro - 5

No time to make an impact but it bodes well that we have these youngsters coming through. Particularly with our success in the transfer market. Youngest ever player to play in the Premier League for Sunderland at seventeen.

Subs: Pickford, Khazri, Lens, Pienaar, Asoro, T Robson, J Robson

Man of the Match - Lynden Gooch