Manchester United change their approach, play possession-based style in win vs Sheffield United | OneFootball

Manchester United twice fell behind against bottom club Sheffield United at Old Trafford but ended up clinching all three points with a 4-2 win on Wednesday.

A poor error from Andre Onana allowed Jayden Bogle to open the scoring for the Blades before Harry Maguire equalised before half-time.

It was the visitors who once again scored in the second half, this time through Ben Brereton Diaz and it was again against the run of play.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes then took matters into his own hands as he scored from the spot to restore parity after Harry Maguire was brought down in the box.

Bruno carrying United

He then unleashed a thunderous left-footer from long range to hand the lead to the hosts before registering an assist for Rasmus Hojlund, who break his six-game scoring duck.

The Red Devils climbed back to sixth with the three points and while it was far from a good display, there were signs of a shift in style.

Prior to the game there were reports of new technical director Jason Wilcox asking manager Erik ten Hag to forego his high-transition style for a more measured possession-based approach.

United had shown they could play while keeping hold of the ball last season and on Wednesday, the 20-time English league champions finished the game with a ball possession percentage of 72 percent.

They completed 722 passes as opposed to 288 by the Blades, and this was one of the rare games where United dominated proceedings and should have scored many more but for some great goalkeeping from Wes Foderingham.

United play new style

Christian Eriksen was played from the start to try and control the tempo of the game and an unlikely sight of United keeping hold of the ball and passing it from side to side while displaying patience was seen.

Against Sheffield United, who were happy to sit deep, this ploy worked out in the end and with Burnley to come next, this style is expected to continue.

But whether the players can maintain this against the bigger teams will be interesting to see. The Red Devils are still to play Newcastle United, Brighton and Arsenal.

Those games are expected to be more a test of whether Ten Hag can get his players to play more with the ball and show bravery and courage.

Fans will be eager to see how Wilcox and Ten Hag perform as a duo in the closing stages of the season and whether this new possession-heavy style continues and whether the players can deliver such a drastic change in the middle of a campaign.

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