Agent47 Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his side played "brilliant football" as they moved to sixth in the Premier League with a comeback victory over bottom club Sheffield United. Marcus Rashford's double ensured the visitors maintained their perfect away record in the Premier League this season but it came after a horror start and a late scare. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson, playing against his former club, gifted the Blades an opener after five minutes when forward Oliver Burke blocked his clearance, allowing David McGoldrick to tap in. John Fleck missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0, which proved costly as Solskjaer's side dominated for much of the match against the winless Blades. Rashford equalised after 26 minutes, his powerful strike from Victor Lindelof's through ball giving Aaron Ramsdale no chance. Anthony Martial ended his 491-minute goal drought by collecting Paul Pogba's pass and beating Ramsdale at the second attempt. And Rashford appeared to have made things comfortable nine minutes after the break by shooting under the diving Ramsdale following a swift counter attack. But there was late concern when McGoldrick headed in from a corner for the hosts with three minutes left, and Henderson then saved Lys Mousset's shot. "We played some brilliant football between their first goal and their second goal - the end was a bit too uncomfortable for my liking," Solskjaer said. "We never make it easy for ourselves. The start was sloppy and slow, and I'm surprised by this because we showed them videos and it happened again. "It was a test for Dean after making a mistake like this, but he passed with flying colours." Victory moves Manchester United to within a point of fourth-placed Leicester City, while Chris Wilder's Blades chalked up an unwanted record of eight successive league defeats, and remain nine points from safety. Manchester United boss Solskjaer appears to have come through the sticky patch which saw his position come under pressure last month following defeats by Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir. They have since exited the Champions League, but after a slow start to their domestic campaign, their away form in the league has been a saving grace. The baffling aspect is that despite picking up a sixth successive league win this season away from Old Trafford, in each game Solskjaer's team have gone behind. It is almost as if they need the extra challenge to inspire them. In this case, it was a woeful piece of play between former Sheffield United players Henderson and Harry Maguire after five minutes, with the goalkeeper hesitating before Burke closed him down, allowing McGoldrick to score his third goal of the season. For Henderson, who is trying to challenge David de Gea to be first choice in goal, it was a poor reflection of the player who had excelled on loan at the Blades for the previous two seasons. But it appeared to galvanise the visitors, who could have scored four or five goals before the break. Rashford was their chief tormentor, ably supported by Bruno Fernandes and Pogba in midfield. Once Martial had finally got on the scoresheet, he then helped set up Rashford for his 12th of the season to become United's top scorer. It crowned a perfect evening for the 23-year-old, who earlier earned a Fifa Foundation award in recognition of his inspirational charity work to combat child poverty. There were further chances for Martial and substitute Juan Mata to make the game safe, and in the end United were reliant on their defence to keep them ahead as the hosts mounted their late revival. Blades still showing fight despite poor form Despite another defeat for the Blades - their 15th in 16 games stretching back to last season - the noises coming out of the club this week have been positive. Before their 3-0 loss at Southampton on Sunday, Saudi owner Prince Abdullah said he would "stick with Wilder" whatever happens this season, while right-back George Baldock said the players had "100% faith" in their manager.
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