MAKING HIS MARC
Rashford nets winner off bench in his first game of the season as United maintain winning start
MARCUS RASHFORD, a late substitute, scored an injury-time winner to end Manchester United’s mounting frustrations after a rearguard action by this season’s surprise package, Hull City.
Rashford converted Wayne Rooney’s cross from the left to maintain Jose Mourinho’s 100 per cent record in the Premier League this season — and put them level on points with Chelsea at the top.
It was a relief for the visitors who had earlier seen Rooney booked for dissent after complaining to referee Jon Moss he’d been obstructed by Curtis Davies. But the late drama was tough on Hull, whose galkeeper Eldin Jakupovic had already made a brilliant stop to deny Rashford.
The evening game on Humberside had been billed as one of the great mismatches. Hull City had only 13 fit senior players, a caretaker manager and every one of the Manchester United starting line-up bar Zlatan Ibrahimovic cost more than their most expensive player, £10million forward Abel Hernandez.
Still, the league table showed both teams had started the season with maximum points from two matches and Hull were optimistic their takeover by Chinese property millionaire Dai Yongge would be completed in time for new signings to arrive by deadline day on Wednesday.
Vice chairman Ehab Allam, son of owner Assem, confirmed in his programme notes: ‘At this point we do believe that today could be our last game as owners of this football club’ — and certainly Hull fans will hope for a speedy conclusion.
Their interim boss Mike Phelan — a former United No 2 under Alex Ferguson — has been so stretched for resources he only made one substitution in the opening two league games against Leicester City and Swansea.
Not surpisingly, there is an enthusiastic siege mentality among the home fans. There were roars when Marouane Fellaini was penalised for chopping down Adama Diomande, though the free-kick went to waste.
And spirits were further raised when news filtered through that Hull FC’s rugby league players had beaten Warrington 12-10 at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup after being 10-0 down.
Could Hull’s footballers follow suit and overturn the odds? Certainly United didn’t do anything to scare them in a cautious opening, with Mourinho’s men content to keep their shape and a header from Ibrahimovic on to the roof of the net their only early chance.
Interestingly, £89million Paul Pogba was the one United player given a little license to roam, moving ahead of Fellaini and even popping up on the left.
As the rain suddenly started lashing down and Juan Mata had a shot charged down, Phelan would have been a contented figure in the technical area. Pogba and Ibrahimovic, two world stars, tried a one-two and makeshift centre-back Jake Livermore calmly stepped in to break up the move.
David Meyler pickpocketed Pogba by the touchline — they had a heavyweight battle all evening — then Diomande beat Fellaini in a 50-50 and was caught by the Belgian, who was booked. Robert Snodgrass was close with the resulting free-kick.
After 25 minutes, Snodgrass’ dedication saw him slide into the post as he challenged Luke Shaw for a cross at the far post. Given Hull’s lack of reinforcements — only Harry Maguire and Shaun Maloney of the substitutes had any experience — there was an anxious wait while Snodgrass got patched up.
As for United, some of their buildup play was so slow and deliberate, you wondered if Louis van Gaal had wandered back into the dug-out.
It took half an hour for Jakupovic to be called into action and his save from Pogba’s bouncer was comfortable. His gather from Mata’s freekick soon after was equally straightforward.
In fact, it was David de Gea in the other goal who had to make the first proper dive, though the Spaniard would have been disappointed to let in a flick header by Hernandez.
Hull’s first effort on goal seemed to enliven United a little. Rooney reacted first to a goalmouth scramble and his goalbound shot after 35 minutes was blocked by the midriff of Hull skipper Davies. Rooney then provided a centre that flashed across the six-yard box with Anthony Martial just unable to get a decisive touch. Martial sent a header from Antonio Valencia’s cross at Jakupovic as United finally moved up a gear. Rooney’s free-kick on half-time reached Ibrahimovic, whose first touch took him wide and second was a backheel into the sidenetting.
Snodgrass finally departed early in the second half to be replaced by Maloney and Davies was then caught by Rooney’s outstretched arm as they challenged in the air.
Fortunately for the home side, their skipper was able to continue. Sam Clucas then came off worse in a 50-50 with Martial. Clearly Mourinho had used the half-time team talk to tell his men to get stuck in.
Ibrahimovic was finding a rainy night in Hull tough and uncharacteristically airkicked a chance inside the box from Rooney’s knockdown. United’s frustration was growing and Mata was waved offside as he raced to meet Ibrahimovic’s flick inside the penalty area. In Rashford, though, they found an answer.