Sheffield: Manchester United continued their recent good form beating Sheffield United 3-2 in the Premier League at the Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Thursday (December 17). Marcus Rashford scored a brace with Antony Martial scoring one for the Red Devils while David James McGoldrick netted twice for the home side.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set up his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Harry Maguire being paired with Victor Lindelof at the heart of the defence. Nemanja Matic along with Paul Pogba formed a double pivot in the midfield. Anthony Martial shared the forward line alongside Marcus Rashford and youngster Mason Greenwood with inform Bruno Fernandes playing as a no.10 behind them.
Sheffield broke the deadlock just after five minutes when goalkeeper Dean Henderson made an absolute howler trying to play it out from the back before Oliver Burke closed him down before McGoldrick capitalising on it netting it for the lead.
United recovered well and equalised after that when Lindelof’s pinged one from the back finding Rashford who finished it off beating goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a wicked drilling shot before they took the lead when Pogba’s exquisite first-time ball over the top split the defensive line of the home side finding Martial who made no mistake with the finish.
A lot of fingers were pointed at Pogba in recent times by the critics and the Frenchmen rightfully gave the answers with just a gem of touch for the assist.
Towards the end of the first, both the sides played an exciting end to end football creating chances but failing the convert.
In the second half, United got their reward to keep building the pressure and extended their lead. Pogba was involved again in a move on the counters starting it before Fernandes, Martial and Rashford got combined each other with a smooth string of passes before the English forward finished off the move with a clinical finish.
The home side got one back through McGoldrick and a fair bit of luck courtesy Lindelof who’s headed clearance deflected off the Irishman finding it the back of the net. Towards the end, Sheffield tried to create chances but that wasn’t enough with the visitors taking full three points stand the sixth place while the home side struggle at the in the points table.
