A frenetic start from Manchester United has given them a solid 2-0 lead at the Sports Direct Arena, with goals from Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra.

It was an impressive opening 15 minutes for the away side and they made their dominance pay with two early goals.

First, Evans met a Robin van Persie corner to thump a header home in the seventh minute, before Evra somehow outjumped Demba Ba from a Wayne Rooney corner to double their advantage.

Jonas Gutierrez nearly halved the deficit on 18 minutes as a snapshot fizzed agonisingly wide of the post.

Howard Webb showed four yellow cards in just 10 minutes as the game turned a bit scrappy, before Yohan Cabaye missed the target from distance with a curled effort on 34 minutes.

Cisse fired over from 12 yards in the final real chance of the half before Webb blew for half-time.