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Topics: Man Utd, Sunderland, Premier League, Fan Reactions
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Man Utd, Sunderland, Premier League, Fan Reactions
A Sunderland fan has detailed her eventful trip to Old Trafford after she caught a "terrified" mouse in the away end during Saturday's Premier League clash against Manchester United.
It was a disappointing afternoon for the travelling Sunderland support, who watched on as first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko sealed a crucial 2-0 win for Ruben Amorim's side.
Away from the football side of things and those sat in the away end were joined by a stray field mouse – a familiar sight for those that attend regularly.
Back in January, a fan sitting in Old Trafford's East End stand captured a mouse that was stuck between the concrete floor and the back of a seat.
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And a month later, a mouse was spotted on the pitch ahead of United's Premier League clash against Ipswich before a member of staff was forced to pick it up and carry it off the field of play.
This time, it appears Sunderland supporter Karen Jackson was forced to take action as she caught the mouse in a plastic cup.
A picture of the small rodent was posted on Facebook by The Football Community page on Sunday night, and a short time later, Jackson gave followers a more detailed account of her experience.
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"This was me. Poor thing was terrified," she said.
"The steward wasn’t going to help him, and said I’d have to leave if I wanted him to be released. So I refused, said I’m not missing the second half… and if he wouldn’t let me release him outside and come back in, the mouse would have to sit and watch the match with me and I’d release him at the end."
She added: "They let me take him outside. Probably back in the ground now though."
Responding to another fan on Facebook, she wrote: "I did catch that mouse. And I can assure you, he was probably more terrified almost being trampled on, therefore rescuing him and taking him outside was the better thing to do."
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Back in December last year, the discovery of mouse droppings at Old Trafford led inspectors to downgrade the club's food hygiene rating from four to two out of five.
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It was said at the time that United officials were working with pest control partners and the local council to implement a series of measures to tackle the infestation.
A spokesperson at United said: "Manchester United implements a robust pest-control system throughout Old Trafford.
"Multiple weekly checks are made in all catering areas and stringent measures are taken to ensure levels of hygiene and cleanliness are high wherever food is stored, prepared and served. If incidents of this nature do occur at the stadium, immediate and appropriate action is taken."
A spokesperson for Trafford Council added: "Our environmental health officers gave a food hygiene rating of two following a routine visit. We are now working closely with Manchester United to ensure it complies with the rating and carries out the necessary improvements."