Manchester United 3, Ipswich Town 2
Harry Maguire scored yet another vital goal as 10 man Manchester United beat Ipswich Town 3-2.
The narrow win took United to 14th after Harry Maguire’s header in the 47th minute – one of three Bruno Fernandes set pieces in the game which resulted in an own goal by Sam Morsy, a Mathijs De Ligt goal and Maguire’s winner.
But United will rue errors by Andre Onana and Patrick Dorgu – Dorgu was eventually sent off just before the break – and a double strike by Jaden Philogene gave the Tractor Boys hope.
United got off to a horrendous start after Jacob Graves’ long ball was accidentally hit past Andre Onana by Patrick Dorgu leaving Jaden Philogene with a simple finish into the empty net after just 4 minutes.
But Ipswich Town could not hold on to their lead. After milking the moment the 3,000 travelling fans had to watch as United exploited two Bruno Fernandes set pieces to retake the lead in after 26 minutes.
Sam Morsy headed Fernandes’ free kick into his own goal from close range after 22 minutes and the bubble burst 4 minutes later when the Tractor Boys failed to clear Fernandes’ corner and Alex Palmer got no support after he saved a Harry Maguire header and a Diogo Dalot shot only to see Mathijs De Ligt smash home the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.
And before half time Jaden Philogene’s cross into the box went towards Liam Delap but went straight in as Delap air kicked and Andre Onana committed himself and could only watch in horror as the ball went in anyway.
United retook the lead shortly after half time when another Fernandes set piece went undefended by the visitors and Harry Maguire put the Reds back in front with a towering header after 47 minutes.
And while United had to toil with 10 men the visitors could not make the breakthrough and the Reds survived to go up to 14th.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 3, Ipswich Town 2
Andre Onana: 5. Rush of blood as he came off his line to go for an early ball up and was left in no man’s land as Patrick Dorgu’s back pass went past him. And then speed to be distracted by the presence of Liam Delap to allow Philogene’s cross into the box to bounce past him. Saved from Philogene late in the game.
Leny Yoro: 6. Got himself about the pitch, tried to create something for Rasmus Hojlund but his team mate wasn’t at the races. Had to sit deeper after United went down to 10 men.
Harry Maguire: 8. Two headers saved by Alex Palmer. Great tackle to stop Liam Delap who had just him to beat before he could get a shot off.Towering header restored United’s lead in the second half.
Mathijs De Ligt: 7. Put United into the lead by smashing home a loose ball from a Bruno Fernandes corner. Good tackle in the second half.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Fierce shot saved leading to United’s second goal. Switched to left back after Patrick Dorgu was sent off.
Manuel Ugarte: 6. Holding down midfield, more aggressive in the second half.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Deeper midfield role but couldn’t stop Liam Delap who was dropping deep. Better going forward where his free kicks and corners were dangerous – leading to an own goal by Sam Morsy and Mathijs De Ligt’s goal. Got an assist in the second half when his corner was converted by Harry Maguire’s header.
Patrick Dorgu: 4. Horrendous error as his attempted backpass went horribly wrong and went past Andre Onana leaving Jaden Philogene with an empty net to tap into. Had a shot saved in the first half but then got himself set off for a dangerous studs up challenge on Omari Hutchinson – something that Darren Bond missed but VAR did see it and he was belatedly sent off in tears.
Joshua Zirkzee: 6. Didn’t leave much impression on the game. Dropped deeper in the second half and then pushed up front when Rasmus Hojlund was taken off.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Sacrificed before half time after Patrick Dorgu was sent off.
Rasmus Hojlund: 5. Anonymous and booked. Slipped at crucial moment trying to make space in the box. Little came off for him and he looked woeful short of confidence.
Noiussair Mazraoui (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 45): 6. Switched to right back after coming on. Just too far away from the ball when he found himself upfront and running onto a cross by Bruno Fernandes.
Casemiro (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 67): 6. Helped shield the back four to protect the lead.
Christian Eriksen (on for Joshua Zirkzee, 90+3): No time to mark.
Victor Lindelof (on for Leny Yoro, 90+3): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 3, Ipswich Town 2
Man Utd 0, Ipswich Town 1: 4. Big punt upfield by Jacob Graves was easy to collect for Patrick Dorgu but the ball slid off his boot and went past the onrushing Andre Onana leaving Jaden Philogene to tap it into an empty net. “1-0 to the Tractor Boys” sing the travelling fans.
Man Utd 1, Ipswich Town 1: 22. Bruno Fernandes’ free kick was headed into his own net by Ipswich captain Sam Morsy from close range.
Man Utd 2, Ipswich Town 1: 26. Mathijs De Ligt smashed the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range after Harry Maguire header and and Diogo Dalot’s shot were both saved by Alex Palmer following Bruno Fernandes’ corner.
Man Utd 2, Ipswich Town 2: 45+2. Jaden Philogene cross into the box went towards Liam Delap but went straight in as Delap air kicked and Andre Onana committed himself and could only watch in horror as the ball went in anyway.
Man Utd 3, Ipswich Town 2: 47. Harry Maguire with a firm header from Bruno Fernandes’ corner from 9 yards out to put United back into the lead.
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 3, Ipswich Town 2
Teamsheet from Old Trafford for Man Utd vs Ipswich Town as Noussair Mazraoui and Casemiro replaced by Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho following the draw at Everton
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 3, Ipswich Town 2
Man Utd: Onana, Yoro (Lindelof 90+3), Maguire, De Ligt, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes (C), Dorgu, Zirkzee (Eriksen 90+3), Garnacho (Mazraoui 45), Hojlund (Casemiro, 67)
Man Utd Subs not used: Gracyzk, Harrison, Heaven, Obi
Red Card: Dorgu 43 (VAR check at monitor showed he slid in dangerously studs up on Omari Hutchinson)
Bookings: Hojlund 45+3 (foul on Dara O’Shea); Zirkzee 61 (foul on Jacob Greaves); Mazraoui 85 (unsporting behaviour)
Goals: Morsy og 22; De Ligt 26; Maguire 47
Ipswich Town: Palmer, Tuanzebe (Johnson 80), O’Shea, Greaves, Davis (Hirst 80), Morsy (C) (Taylor 66), Cajuste (Szmodics 90+1), Philogene, Hutchinson (Broadhead 66), Jack Clarke
Ipswich Town Subs not used: Muric, Woolfenden, Townsend, Luongo
Booked: Morsy 35 (foul on Joshua Zirkzee); O’Shea 45+4; Delap 85 (unsporting behaviour); Johnson 90+7 (foul on Bruno Fernandes)
Goals: Philogene 4, 45+2
Referee: Darren England
Attendance: 73827