MAN UNITED 1, LEICESTER CITY 0
Marcus Rashford was spot on for Manchester United whose home victory against Leicester City lifted them into the Champions League places.
Rashford, who had a costly penalty miss in the last home game, a defeat to Crystal Palace, made no mistake this time round.
The striker’s early strike from 12 yards proved pivotal to only a second Reds’ win from their first five matches to the delight of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe said: “All players miss penalties, Maradona, Messi, Platini and Zico, my favourite player.
“You have to be confident to step up the next time.”
Such is the congested nature of the Premier League – the top two sides apart – the win lifted United into fourth place giving the club a timely boost after a challenging start to the campaign.
Despite a worrying list of absentees through injury, depleted United displayed commendable resolve and resilience in the latter stages to hold on to their slender lead.
Solskjaer praised the “team spirit and character” of his side and was especially pleased with the way his side defended well and the way Harry Maguire subdued dangerman Jamie Vardy.
“When you play against strikers like Jamie Vardy you have to concentrate because if you mistime your run, he is in behind you. I thought Harry did well,” he said.
“They (Leicester) are a good side who want to get in the top four. To keep a clean sheet in great but let’s not get too excited because we know we can play better. We defended as a proper team.
“We hung in there. It was the first time this season where we have had to defend for large periods. We have dominated the other games but today we saw a team that could defend in their own half.”
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers thought his side deserved something from the game in which they had 58 per cent possession.
United were without the injured Paul Pogba as Nemanja Matic won his first start of the season, the one change from the side that drew at Southampton.
Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial remain injured as Ashley Young stayed at left back and captained the side.
It was a special day for Maguire as he played against the side he left in the summer in an £80 million deal, though he was the subject of abuse from Foxes’ fans.
United made a bright start and in the third minute Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did well to claw out an Andreas Pereira free kick from under the bar.
Schmeichel moments later set up the Foxes’ first chance with a long clearance to James Maddison whose shot was saved by the legs of keeper David De Gea.
The breakthrough came in the eighth minute when Rashford won a penalty after being tripped by Cagla Soyuncu.
After his spot kick miss in the home defeat to Crystal Palace, Rashford made no mistake this time from 12 yards sending Schmeichel the wrong way.
Leicester had a chance to equalise on the half hour when Ben Chilwell’s 25-yard drive was acrobatically turned over by Maguire.
United had two decent chances to extend their lead early in the second period.
New-boy Daniel James made one of his trademark cut ins from the left before firing just over.
Mata then cut in from the right and forced Schmeichel into a decent save.
Leicester also went close through a James Maddison free kick after Scott McTominay committed a foul in a dangerous position just outside the box.
United made their first change mid-half when Brazilian Fred replaced Matic in a straight midfield swop.
And that was quickly followed by a second as Mata made way for youngster Tahith Chong.
United had a great chance to double their lead and seal victory with seven minutes left when Rashford bent a 30-yard free kick over the defensive wall only for it to hit the top of the upright.
The Reds made their last change with 90 minutes up when James, who had been booked, was replaced by Axel Tuanzebe.
It was a nervy finish for United who were aware of the importance of the three points.
They had one late scare when Foxes’ Wilfred Ndidi shot narrowly wide as United resorted to lumping up the ball to keep Leicester at bay.