[ad_1]
SHEFFIELD, England (Reuters) – Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United extended their 100 percent record on the road, coming back again to beat last Premier League club Sheffield United 3-2 on Thursday.
United have won all six league games away from home this season, conceding first each time, and the latest comeback victory took them to sixth place, with 23 points, five behind leaders Liverpool but with one game in hand.
Sheffield United’s lone point from 13 games is the worst start for a team in any top flight campaign and the Blades have lost eight straight and 15 of their last 16 since last season.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to play goalkeeper Dean Henderson ahead of David De Gea for the trip to Bramall Lane, where the English goalkeeper played and impressed on loan last season.
But Henderson got off to a nightmare start, being caught in possession by Oliver Burke, who slipped the ball to David McGoldrick, who sent the Blades out to a fifth-minute lead.
John Fleck did not take a great opportunity to make it 2-0 for Chris Wilder’s team and that break gave life to Manchester United.
After squandering a good opportunity with a wild shot, Rashford made no mistake in the 26th minute when he picked up a long pass from Victor Lindelof with a deft first touch and a fatal first strike.
Paul Pogba set up the second with a one-touch pass into the corner, over the Sheffield defense to Anthony Martial, who circled Aaron Ramsdale before conceding.
FINE MOVEMENT
Six minutes after the break, Rashford added his second to make it 3-1, finishing off a good pass play started by Pogba, with a shot that squeezed Ramsdale’s body.
McGoldrick threw one back for the Yorkshire fighters with three minutes remaining, heading for a corner from close up before Henderson made up for his opening mistake with a reflex save to avoid an attack from Lys Mousset.
Solskjaer was satisfied with most of United’s display after another slow start.
“We played brilliant football between his first and second goals; the end was a bit awkward for my liking,” he said.
When asked if his players believed they could still win the title, the Norwegian was cautious.
“We can’t get too far ahead, but I’m happy that the players may be thinking that way because that means recovery, concentration is better and those small margins mean a lot,” he said.
Wilder perked up with the performance on his side.
“It has given me and the players the belief that if we play the way we play, especially away from possession, we have something left in this season,” he said.
“Tonight I will rest my head on the pillow knowing that the team has left everything there.”
(Reporting by Simon Evans, edited by Ed Osmond)
[ad_2]
