Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2
Bruno Fernandes carried Manchester United to a late win against a feisty Sheffield United side as they won for the first time in 5 Premier League games.
The cringe was strong for United after the basement Blades took the lead in the 35th minute after Andre Onana’s ball out to Diogo Dalot was intercepted by Jayden Bogle who continued his run into the six yard box where he rifled in from four yards out past the United keeper.
And although Wes Foderingham had been responsible for a string of saves to keep the Reds out he was powerless to stop Harry Maguire from equalising after he flicked Alejandro Garnacho’s cross past him and inside the back post.
A brief VAR check for offside confirmed the goal was good but United had precious little time to be happy as they were soon behind after Ben Osborn cut the ball back for Ben Brereton Diaz to slot past Onana on 50 minutes.
United won a penalty which Bruno Fernandes converted after 61 minutes after Auston Trusty hauled down Harry Maguire in the area – just as the ball was being bundled home.
The Reds should have been the team to get tired after their FA Cup infamy but they produced two more late goals to put the game beyond the Blades – Bruno Fernandes scored from almost 30 yards with a left foot – a worldie into the top corner.
And then he made the game safe by laying on a fourth United goal for Rasmus Hojlund.
The game was then safe enough for the debut of Ethan Wheatley – the 250th Academy Product to graduate to the first team for the Reds who closed out a first win in 5 Premier League games to go 6th.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2
Andre Onana: 5. Easy save from Ben Brereton Diaz. Horrendous error to gift the opener to Sheffield United.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Tried a long range effort with his left foot – topped over by Wes Foderingham. Great chance for second equaliser but a poor final touch allowed Foderingham to smother it. Unlucky intended recipient of Andre Onana ball out which led to Jayden Bogle goal.
Casemiro: 7. Did reasonably well in an unfamiliar central defensive role. Got forward too.
Harry Maguire: 8. Headed United back on terms after getting on the end of a cross from Alejandro Garnacho. Hauled down for a penalty. Got lucky when Ben Brereton Diaz shot came off him but just wide of the one goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. A more defensive role for the full back but Sheffield United’s second goal came down his side.
Christian Eriksen: 6. Moved well in the first half, spraying balls around (although not as accurately as in his hey day) and had a dipping shot go over the bar. Tired quickly in the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6. Good show in midfield, found plenty of space and should have scored with a low shot after 33 minutes. Wes Foderingham saved.
Antony: 6. Did little in the game. Missing for the second Sheffield United opening goal. Taken off.
Bruno Fernandes: 9. Constantly looking to create chances. Cut a great ball back for Kobbie Mainoo which was begging to be finished. Scored a pressure penalty before whipping one in with his left foot from over 25 yards out and then setting up Rasmus Hojlund for a fourth goal to make the game safe.
Alejandro Garnacho: 7. Lively start and had a golden chance saved by Wes Foderingham after skipping into the penalty area.
Rasmus Hojlund: 7. Precious little service but did force a save out of Wes Foderingham before scoring a late goal laid on by Bruno Fernandes to break his drought.
Amad Diallo (on for Antony, 55): 6. Got stuck in when he could.
Scott McTominay (on for Christian Eriksen, 64): 6. Filled a hole in midfield. Dangerous looking boot up challenge on Wes Foderingham.
Ethan Wheatley (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 90+1): Landmark 250th Academy Graduate. No time to mark.
Sofyan Amrabat (on for Kobbie Mainoo, 90+1): No time to mark.
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2
There were 2 changes from the team that won the penalty shootout to beat Coventry City in the FA Cup semi final at Wembley on Sunday.
Christian Eriksen and Antony replaced Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford – who limped off during the semi final and wasn’t included in the match day squad.
GOALS – Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2
Man Utd 0, Sheffield Utd 1: 35. Jayden Bogle cut inside and intercepted a poor ball out to Diogo Dalot from Andre Onana, raced into the six yard box from wide on the right and rifled the ball home from 4 yards.
Man Utd 1, Sheffield Utd 1: 42. Harry Maguire’s flicked header at the near post off Alejandro Garnacho’s cross trickled inside the back post, confirmed after VAR check for offside.
Man Utd 1, Sheffield Utd 2: 50. Ben Osborn’s cutback from the left served up the ball on the plate to Ben Brereton Diaz who rifled it into the roof of the net from close range after impressive passing and movement down the Sheffield United left.
Man Utd 2, Sheffield United 2: 61. Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty to equalise again after Harry Maguire was hauled down in the area just as the loose ball cannoned into the Sheffield United net from the confusion. A penalty was awarded and it was just as well Fernandes scored.
Man Utd 3, Sheffield United 2: 81. Kobbie Mainoo squared the ball to Bruno Fernandes who shifted it onto his left foot and curled a 25 yard shot inside the near post from the right side to put United into the lead for the first time in the game.
Man Utd 4, Sheffield United 2: 85. Rasmus Hojlund finished from 5 yards out after a dinked cross from Bruno Fernandes laid the ball on a plate for him.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, Casemiro, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Eriksen (McTominay 64), Mainoo (Sofyan Amrabat 90+1), Antony (Diallo 56), Fernandes (C), Garnacho, Hojlund (Wheatley 90+1)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Forson, Amass, Ogunneye, Jackson
Goals: Maguire 42; Fernandes 61 pen, 81; Hojlund 85
Sheffield Utd: Foderingham, Trusty, Hamer, Archer (McAtee 62, Osula 87), Bremerton, Ahmedhodzic, Bogle (Norwood 77), Osborn, Arblaster (C), Holgate, Brooks (Vini Souza 46)
Sheffield Utd Subs not used: Grbic, Slimane, Larouchi, Curtis, Hampson
Booked: Holgate 37 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho)
Goals: Bogle 35, Brereton Diaz 50
Attendance: 73549
Referee: Michael Salisbury