Lindelof the unlikely hero as United ease a little pressure with narrow win over Luton
SWEDE RELIEF: Manchester United's Victor Lindelof celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
VICTOR Lindelof was the unlikely goalscoring hero as an unconvincing Manchester United win lifted the pressure, for a few more days at least, on manager Erik ten Hag.
The goal, the defender’s first since December 2020, made it two league wins in as many games for United, both by 1-0 scorelines.
But with United having exited the EFL Cup and moved a step closer doing the same in the Champions League this month, ten Hag still needs a major upturn in fortunes.
The Swedish centre-half struck on 59 minutes after a cleared corner was played back into the area by Mason Mount. Marcus Rashford drove the ball goalwards and, after a kindly deflection off Scott McTominay, Lindelof drove the ball in from eight yards.
It could have been a far easier afternoon for United if they had made one of their early chances count, especially a ninth minute miss by Rasmus Hojlund.
Rashford’s cross took a deflection off Gabe Osho which may have thrown the Danish striker out of sync, but he should still have done better than knee the ball straight at keeper Thomas Kaminski from close range.
Rashford also saw a volley, from a Bruno Fernandes corner, deflected just wide off Osho.
And, before the interval, Hojlund played Alejandro Garnacho clean through on the keeper only for the youngster to take too long and see his effort cleared off the line by Tom Lockyer.
In fact, United were fortunate not to trail at the interval as Andre Onana made the best save of the half, diving to keep out an excellent header from Carlton Morris, from Issa Kabore’s cross. And veteran Andros Townsend followed up with a shot from the edge of the area that the United keeper was again required to get behind.
It was another indication of the troubles United have faced in a worrying start to the season that has raised questions about ten Hag’s job security.
A win against one of the relegation favourites was certainly required and Hojlund might have taken a step in that direction soon after the restart but headed wide from a Fernandes free-kick.
Rashford, still with just one goal to his name this season, also pressured the visitors, with an excellent cross which Kaminski punched clear and then soon won the corner which led to the opening goal.
The England striker should have improved his own goalscoring record and eased the anxiety around Old Trafford, when he was played in by substitute Antony after 69 minutes but hit a shot straight at the keeper.
Rashford and Sergio Reguilon combined well to set up an opening for Fernandes but his effort was blocked, at the expense of a corner although the loss of Hojlund to injury, with Christian Eriksen having already been forced off in the first half, will have concerned ten Hag.
Scott McTominay’s header was well saved as United negotiated the final exchanges, although a return of 13 goals from as many league games remains a major cause for concern.
Onana 7; Dalot 5, Maguire 7, Lindelof 7, Reguilon 7 (Varane 78, 5); McTominay 7, Eriksen 5 (Mount 39, 5); Rashford 8, Fernandes 6, Garnacho 5 (Antony 68, 5); Hojlund 6 (Martial 78, 5). Substitutes (not used) Bayindir, Amrabat, Pellistri, Mainoo, Mejbri.
Kaminski 7; Mengi 6, Lockyer 7, Osho 6; Kabore 7 (Adebayo 87), Nakamba 6 (Mpanzu 86), Barkley 6, Doughty 5 (Clark 72, 5); Townsend 6 (Chong 60, 5), Ogbene 6 (Giles 86); Morris 6. Substitutes (not used) Berry, Brown, Krul, Nelson.
G Scott 7 Ends
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