Match Report: Manchester United 4-2 Sheffield United | OneFootball

Manchester United won 4-2 against Sheffield United in what was another erratic performance from Erik ten Hag’s side.

With the Blades sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, this match was a must-win for Man United, especially at home.

United got the match off to a fiery start, with Diogo Dalot thumping a long-range effort goalward that the away keeper had to tip over the bar. Unfortunately, Bruno Fernandes’ corner was easily cut out.

Andre Brooks appeared to cause United’s defence some problems, dribbling past Christian Eriksen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka before Wan-Bissaka tracked back to dispossess him. Erik ten Hag’s team would need to show more defensive awareness going forward in order to avoid conceding early.

In the ninth minute, United were on the breakaway when Fernandes threaded a through ball to Antony. The Brazilian laid the ball off for Eriksen, whose shot was blocked by Sheffield goalkeeper Wes Foderingham before the offside flag was raised.

United continued to pile on the pressure, camping in the underdogs’ final third. A Fernandes’ corner found Casemiro, who slammed the ground in frustration after his header went wide.

Garnacho gave away the ball in the 13th minute to Cameron Archer, whose effort veered wide. Following the restart, the underdogs regained possession, with Ben Brereton Díaz getting a shot on target. United’s lack of defensive structure is worrying.

The Argentine winger almost compensated for his flaw minutes later, letting rip a strong shot on target to force a save from Foderingham.

Following a prolonged period of pressure, United were unable to find a way through the Sheffield defence. Out of what appeared to be desperation, Garnacho cut back to Eriksen, who ballooned his long-range effort over the crossbar.

Moments later, United launched a far quicker attack, with Garnacho weaving past the away side’s defenders to take a close-range shot. Unfortunately for him, his effort was denied by a fine save.

A Fernandes cross found its way into the box, with Antony hitting a snapshot hard and low only to be denied by the impressive Sheffield keeper. Following the corner, Antony received possession yet again, this time firing a left-footed shot wide.

On the 30-minute mark, United almost let Sheffield through, with the defence failing to mark Brereton. Fortunately, they were able to regroup just in time to stop the danger.

A moment later, United launched a blistering counter, with Hojlund taking a shot from the left to force a leg save from Foderingham.

Following another prolonged period of possession for United, Fernandes broke through the defence, cutting back to Mainoo whose shot was saved. Only afterwards did the referee blow the whistle for offside.

In the 34th minute, disaster struck, as Andre Onana accidentally passed the ball to the opposition. His blunder gave Jayden Bogle the opportunity to slip past the defence and slot the ball past him into the net. While United had 84% possession and 11 shots, this all counted for nothing as the away team grabbed the lead in what was an utter humiliation for United.

Fernandes took two long-range shots, one which sailed over the top and another that the goalkeeper caught. The frustration on the United skipper’s face was evident given the embarrassing scoreline.

United earned a free-kick when Mainoo was brought down outside the box. Fernanes’ cross found Garnacho on the left, whose cross found Harry Maguire. While Maguire’s header was sublimely directed into the net, VAR decided to check for offside. Ultimately, the goal stood, ensuring that United were back in the game.

On the stroke of half-time, Onana struck a sublime long ball that found Dalot. The full-back laid the ball off to Garnacho, whose shot was saved by the Sheffield keeper who has clearly been deserving of his wages this evening.

In three minutes of added time, the underdogs’ defence refused to capitulate to United’s offensive pressure. United would be disappointed with themselves for going into the break 1-1 given their dominance throughout the half.

United came out swinging in the second half, with Garnacho getting on the end of a counter-attack only for his shot to be saved.

Sadly, this appeared to be just an illusion, as Brereton got on the end of a through ball and put it away, putting the away side in front yet again.

After 55 minutes, Antony’s night came to an end as he was replaced by Amad Diallo. Diogo Dalot then got on the end of a through ball however he procrastinated long enough to be tackled before he got the shot off.

On the hour mark, Maguire was brought down in the box just as he nipped the ball to Dalot. While Dalot put the ball in the net, the referee blew the whistle and awarded United a penalty. There followed a rare occurrence when United players swarmed the ref to complain about a penalty awarded in their favour. Ultimately, such protests were in vain, as Fernandes comfortably put away the penalty to level the scoreline yet again.

Scott McTominay replaced Eriksen in the 65th minute, providing United with some additional firepower up front as they pursued a winner.

In the 66th minute, the Yorkshire side almost grabbed the lead for a third time when Brereton took a spontaneous effort that rocketed off of Maguire’s legs and scraped the upright.

74 minutes in, Brereton got a shot off a corner that was blocked in front of goal. Despite calls for a handball, VAR found that there was no evidence to suggest that a penalty should be awarded.

In the 80th minute, Fernandes produced the first moment of magic of the game. Shifting the ball from his right foot to his left, he curled a long-range effort into the right corner of the goal, handing United the lead for the first time this evening.

In the 85th minute, United put some daylight between themselves and the visitors when Rasmus Hojlund got on the end of a Fernandes’ pass and poked it into the net. A fine finish for Hojlund following a subdued appearance from the Dane.

As nine minutes of added time were awarded, Hojlund made way for Ethan Wheatley, an academy graduate making his first team debut, while Kobbie Mainoo was subbed off for Sofyan Amrabat.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Garnacho came close to scoring yet again, with his effort forcing a save from Foderingham.

While United held on for the win, it was yet another unconvincing performance from Ten Hag’s side, doing poorly to make the most of their dominance and ultimately squeaking through after falling behind twice.

Starting XI: Onana, Maguire, Fernandes, Hojlund, Eriksen, Garnacho, Casemiro, Dalot, Antony, Wan-Bissaka, Mainoo Subs: Amad, McTominay, Wheatley, Amrabat

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