Dalot conjures a little bit of Charlton magic to rescue United
MOMENT OF REFLECTION: Players from both sides observe a moments silence in tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who has died aged 86, his family have announced today, before the during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Pic: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Bobby Charlton, a club icon forever associated with the spectacular, was given a fitting send-off by Diogo Dalot, of all people, as United earned an unconvincing win at struggling Sheffield United.
The day that will forever be remembered as the one when United lost their legendary figurehead, 86, ended with Erik ten Hag enjoying successive league wins for the first time this season, thanks to the Portuguese full-back.
His side was heading towards an uninspiring draw against their struggling hosts when substitute Alejandro Garnacho and Victor Lindelof combined to deliver him the ball some 25 yards outside the home area.
With the minimum of fuss, or apparent effort, Dalot simply deposited the ball into the top corner, via the goalkeeper’s fingertips.
The loss of the iconic World Cup winner dominated the thoughts of United, and English football in general, in the build-up to the contest but, after current captain Bruno Fernandes laid a wreath in the centre circle before kick-off, the two combatants served up a focused affair.
And at its centre was Scott McTominay, scorer of the opening goal and culprit as his handball brief minutes later gifted an equaliser to the struggling visitors.
After scoring twice in injury-time to earn United a win on their last outing, against Brentford, he maintained that form in handing his side the lead on 28 minutes.
Lindelof’s neat pass was moved on by Bruno Fernandes for McTominay who took a controlling touch on his chest and stabbed an impressively improvised finish into the bottom corner.
It was something of a gift for ten Hag’s side but, as has often been the case this season, from a promising situation, they quickly capitulated.
Just two minutes later, McTominay stuck out an arm in trying to intercept James McAtee’s cross, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and, after minutes of Manchester complaints and a VAR check, McBurnie struck in the equalising penalty with admirable poise.
It meant that United had conceded a goal within six minutes of scoring for the sixth time out of their last 14 goals scored - an alarming statistic that speaks to their fragility.
All-square at the break was, probably, a fair reflection of the half, with Andre Onana saving well from Cameron Archer twice, the first after a bad slip by Sofyan Amrabat.
At the other end, Rasmus Hojlund slid in and narrowly missed connecting with a Marcus Rashford cross, Fernandes clipped the bar from a free-kick and Wes Foderingham saved well from Hojlund as he pounced on a deflected Rashford shot.
The home side, with just one point from their opening eight league games, started the second half with as much urgency as they had the first.
After 48 minutes, Onana tipped over an Oliver Norwood shot from the edge of the area and the keeper did well to get his body behind a shot from substitute Rhian Brewster that dipped treacherously.
There was still plenty of evidence of why Sheffield are rooted to the foot of the table, with a mistake at the back handing the ball to Rashford who set up Hojlund to shoot directly at keeper Foderingham.
Rashford himself then found space to roll a shot inches wide as United built towards their best spell of the game.
As United finally dominated their struggling hosts over the final quarter of the game, Sofyan Amrabat struck the woodwork, the second time United had done so on the evening, with Fernandes shooting wide from the rebound on the edge of the area.
Foderingham 6; Bogle 6, Trusty 6, Robinson 5, Thomas 6; McAtee 7 (Osborn 78, 5), Norwood 6, Souza 5, Hamer 5 (Traore 84); McBurnie 7 (Brewster 51 ,6), Archer 7. Fleck, Slimane, One, Amissah, Seriki, Buyabu.
Onana 6; Dalot 7, Maguire 5, Evans 5 (Varane 83), Lindelof 6; Amrabat 5, McTominay 6 (Eriksen 63, 5); Antony 5 (Garnacho 63, 7), Fernandes 7, Rashford 7 (Mount 87); Hojlund 5 (Martial 63, 5). Bayindir, Pellistri, van de Beek, Mejbri.
M Oliver 7
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