[ad_1]
-
Rob DawsonCorrespondent
SHEFFIELD, England – The nervousness in preparation for the trip to Sheffield United is evidence enough that not all Manchester United fans are convinced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. But there will be renewed optimism about what might be possible this season after a 3-2 comeback at Bramall Lane.
After Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Leicester and Southampton all lost points in the space of 48 hours this week, United seemed destined to do what they always do and find a way to self-destruct, even against the bottom of the Premier League and the only team in the top four levels of English football that has yet to win a league game this season.
– Stream ESPN FC daily on ESPN + (US only)
– ESPN + Spectator Guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more
Instead, however, they came from behind (again) to win away (again). They are now only the fourth team in top flight history to win 10 straight league games away from home, winning all six league games away from Old Trafford this season despite conceding first each time. In fact, United are the first Premier League team to win six away games after conceding first in a single season.
They did it here after just five minutes when Oliver Burke attacked Dean Henderson, instead of David de Gea, and David McGoldrick took advantage of an empty net. But then the comeback kings set off to score twice in eight minutes before halftime through Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Rashford scored again in the second half before McGoldrick’s lucky second at the end achieved a frantic finish. In the end, it was not enough to prevent Sheffield United from setting a new club record of eight consecutive losses or breaking the ignominious record for the worst start to an English season in the top flight dating back to 1888-89.
“The start was so sloppy, slow again and that surprised me,” Solskjaer said. “We talked about it, we showed videos and it happened. We ran around the court, but the character is fantastic for each and every one of us.”
“I have no frustrations at the moment. It was a difficult game, a difficult place and I didn’t expect it to be comfortable.
“The goals we scored were excellent and from time to time you have to accept that opponents have weapons and arsenal that can harm you and Sheffield United certainly does.”
United are in sixth place, five points behind leaders Liverpool with one game less. Win that and it would be seconds. Solskjaer’s pre-match statement that he wants his players to believe they can fight for the title this season no longer seems so far-fetched.
There are issues to be addressed before the bookmakers consider them anything other than fifth favorites behind Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea, and Solskjaer will know that they cannot continue to give teams an advantage. A better team than Sheffield United, the only team in the league without a clean sheet this season, would have done a better job defending what they had rather than capitulating before it was time to close the hatches.
United have been left behind in 11 of their 18 Premier League and Champions League games, and it is not sustainable to keep waiting for them to pull a rabbit out of the hat over and over again. Solskjaer learned that lesson against RB Leipzig, as United were demoted to the Europa League.
However, there is evidence to support the tentative optimism. United have taken 16 points out of the last 18 available and top the form table ahead of the grueling Christmas schedule.
Here, Solskjaer was able to associate Rashford, Martial and Mason Greenwood, the three forwards so brilliant at the end of last season, only for the third time in this period. The third goal in particular, a quick move from one penalty area to another in a matter of seconds, showed exactly why they can be so devastating.
After a week of headlines generated by his agent Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba displayed all of his best attributes, notably a passing range that no one else on the field could match. The showcase can do wonders with the shape of a player.
“He more or less won all the headlines, his vision, his creativity – Paul has responded very well to the work he has been doing and it was an excellent performance,” Solskjaer said afterward.
Martial, meanwhile, scored his first league goal of the season after a difficult start due to suspension and injury. If United are to put up a serious challenge, the Frenchman will likely have to get close to the 23 he achieved in all competitions last season.
With the match under control in the second half, Solskjaer was also able to give Bruno Fernandes a rare respite and bring in Donny van de Beek. The Norwegian had enough options to give De Gea, Luke Shaw, Fred and Scott McTominay the night off and his squad rotation will continue to be vital as he tries to navigate five games in 13 days beginning with Leeds United’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.
There will be more nerves before that game. Solskjaer’s United are fast becoming the reds on the roller coaster, but for now they remain on the right track.
