by
Isaac Stacey Stronge
Wednesday
24 April 2024
22:00
Manchester United emerged as the victors in an eventful 4-2 win over Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
The Reds were looking to return to winning ways in the league, having gone four games without taking all three points, but it was not to be an ideal start, when Jayden Bogle seized the ball high up the field and opened the scoring for the visitors.
The reply came quickly via a perfectly weighted Harry Maguire glancing header on the end of a Alejandro Garnacho cross, to even things up, as the sides headed back to the dressing rooms at the break.
It was a similar story in the second half when the Blades drew the first blood once more, this time through a powerful close-range Ben Brereton Diaz finish.
A rapid response came once again, courtesy of captain Bruno Fernandes from the spot. That was only the start for the Portugal international, popping up once again inside the final 10 minutes to provide us with the lead for the first time, before turning provider as Rasmus Hojlund ensured maximum points.
A precision header from Maguire got us back on level terms in the first half.
FIRST HALF – MAGUIRE LEVELS IT
Ten Hag’s men got to work straight from the off, working the ball towards the edge of the box within the first minute, from where Diogo Dalot found an opening to shoot. It troubled Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham enough to tip it wide, a smart decision that almost certainly saved his side an early setback.
That early opportunity set the tone for the opening moments of the game. The Reds dominated the possession, maintaining control against the visitors’ deep, tight-knit defensive unit.
Casemiro, once again operating in an unfamiliar centre-back position due to injuries, looked a likely outlet, twice muscling his way to the ball first from corners but finding it difficult to make clean contact on each occasion.
Midway through the half, it was time to go more direct. Garnacho took the initiative, dangerously driving into the box, feinting one way and the other. The Old Trafford crowd were eagerly awaiting the ripple of the net but the Argentina international had allowed Foderingham too long to adjust his feet, meaning he was able to get in front of the resulting shot.
However, the price for not capitalising on our early pressure was paid just past the half-hour mark. Andre Onana played an uncharacteristically short pass to Dalot and a grateful Jayden Bogle rushed forward to intercept, before slotting home a finish inside the near post.
The Reds found a reply under 10 minutes later when Garnacho collected a Fernandes free-kick on the left flank. He swivelled and sent an inswinging cross back into the penalty area that was expertly glanced beyond Foderingham by Maguire, supplying a well-deserved equaliser before the break.
Garnacho almost provided the lead seconds later, with a close-range effort, but it was kept out well with a reactive save by the outstanding Foderingham.
There was still plenty of work to be done at the break.
SECOND HALF – BRUNO TO THE FORE
The Reds came back out from the interval with work to do, but it was the Blades who once again stamped the first mark on the half when Brereton Diaz latched on to a Ben Osborn cut-back yards from goal to net their second.
On the hour-mark, chaos erupted when Maguire was pulled down in the box. At the moment referee Michael Salisbury blew his whistle to award the penalty, Dalot managed to scramble the ball over the line for what he thought was the equaliser, although it may have been an own goal on closer inspection.
Play was brought back to the spot and there was to be no further inquest, as our ever-reliable captain stepped up and converted coolly.
Fernandes was the difference in the second half.
There were 15 minutes left on the clock and our opponents were forced to venture further out of their own half with the threat of Premier League relegation breathing heavily down their neck.
Ten Hag’s men began to exploit the extra space they were being afforded and it would fall once more to Fernandes to give the Reds the lead for the first time on the night.
He received a short pass from midfield partner Kobbie Mainoo and found he was being willed to shoot. He took the invitation without a second thought, thundering a left-foot shot beyond the grasp of Foderingham.
Our Portuguese magnifico was not done yet.
In the final five minutes of normal time, he received the ball inside the box, before playing a drilled pass across the face of goal towards Hojlund in the middle, who poked home assuredly, ensuring the three points were secured.
There was a 250th Academy debutant to celebrate towards the end, when Ethan Wheatley came on, and the teenager was almost set up by Fernandes in the lengthy period of stoppage time.
It fell to Rasmus Hojlund to top the night off.
MATCH DETAILS
United:
Onana; Dalot, Casemiro, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo (Amrabat 90+1), Eriksen (McTominay 64); Antony (Amad 55), Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Hojlund (Wheatley 90+1).
Unused substitutes:
Bayindir, Amass, Ogunneye, Jackson, Forson.
Goals:
Maguire 42, Fernandes 61 (pen), 81, Hojlund 85.
Sheffield United:
Foderingham; Colgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle (Norwood 78), Hamer, Arblaster (c), Brooks (Souza 46), Osborn; Brereton Diaz, Archer (McAtee 62 (Osula 87)).
Unused substitutes:
Grbic, Larouci, Curtis, Hampson, Slimane.
Bookings:
Holgate 37.
Goals:
Bogle 35, Brereton Diaz 50.
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by
Isaac Stacey Stronge
Wednesday
24 April 2024
22:00
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