Manchester Evening News

THE VERDICT: HUDDERSFIE­LD 2 UNITED 1 There’s no defending Victor over this outing

REDS SUFFER FIRST LEAGUE DEFEAT OF THE SEASON AS SWEDE’S ERRORS PROVE COSTLY

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST samuel.luckhurst@men-news.co.uk @samuelluck­hurst

Kissed goodbye to Premier League history in failure to keep clean sheet. He deserved more. Gary Neville formally anointed him as his successor this week, but tough afternoon against the energetic Tom Ince. A trademark, full-hearted tackle seemed to trigger his early exit. United never recovered. Tried to guide Lindelof but had a couple of shaky moments, himself, with one heart in mouth back-pass in particular. Consistent­ly United’s best outlet on the flanks but his delivery was not always up to its usual high standards. Hardly put a foot wrong in his own half, setting full-backs free, and took up creative responsibi­lity when attacking. Barked at his team-mates, but was easily dispossess­ed on a number of occasions. He is struggling for a role in the side. Had sat out trips to Stoke and Liverpool and did not affect this game. He was easily dispossess­ed by Mooy for goal. Usually thrives through middle but a frustratin­g afternoon in his first league start. Decision making awry. Perhaps lucky to avoid a second booking for number of niggling tackles as the crowd got on his back. Has failed to score in 18 of last 24 league games against newlypromo­ted teams, but put in a great cross for Rashford. LINDELOF (FOR JONES 23): Failed his first big Premier League test. 3 RASHFORD (FOR MARTIAL 45): Nice header for consolatio­n. 6 MKHITARYAN (FOR MATA 45): Struggled to pull out one of his trademark assists. 5 NOT USED: Blind, Romero, Darmian, McTominay AFTER all the bus-parking jibes United have copped over the last week the team coach was late at Huddersfie­ld and the driver wasn’t the only one whose timing was off. Victor Lindelof arrived late in the game and showed just why some who have known Jose Mourinho for years have described him as the ‘most un-Mourinho of defenders.’

The Swede hesitated for Aaron Mooy’s opener and his meek header was intercepte­d by Laurent Depoitre before he doubled Huddersfie­ld’s lead. De Gea had only conceded two Premier League goals this season before Lindelof played any meaningful minutes in Yorkshire.

Lindelof made his league debut with a cameo at Liverpool last week and is not ready to play a supporting role in the United side. Mourinho said Lindelof was ‘not ready’ to face Real Madrid in August and more than two months on his status has not changed. The opposition on Saturday was a team who had scored twice in the league at home before Phil Jones was substitute­d, rather than the European champions.

Jones beat the turf in frustratio­n after he collapsed injured in the 23rd minute and on came Lindelof. Newly-signed United centre-halves tend to struggle initially but that perspectiv­e is wearing thin with Lindelof, a £30m addition who is still deemed unsuitable for a game against a newly-promoted side.

Lindelof ’s poor showing should not overshadow what was the worst half of football from United.

This was the antithesis of a Mourinho side, even legislatin­g for the key absences of Eric Bailly, Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba, and what was maybe more startling was how inept United were in their efforts to salvage the match. Their second attempt on target arrived in the 77th minute after Mourinho had introduced Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at half-time and switched to a back three.

Anthony Martial’s impetuousn­ess set the tone for United’s feeble and fazed afternoon. He kicked out at the aggressive Tommy Smith early on and was cautioned before he committed two more fouls, causing the locals to bay for red.

United were rattled by Huddersfie­ld’s intensity and started carrying passengers in Martial and Juan Mata. Jesse Lingard did not vindicate his positionin­g behind Romelu Lukaku and flayed Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic for some shambolic passing.

What Mourinho saw for the first goal must have made him feel sick. The lightweigh­t Mata was dispossess­ed by Mooy, Lindelof hesitated and allowed the exCity Mooy (28), Depoitre (33) Rashford (78) 22% 78% 5 9 4 7 Smith, Schindler, Williams, Mooy Young, Martial Lee Mason 24,426 player to lay off to Thomas Ince, whose effort was parried by De Gea but lashed in by Mooy on the rebound. Lindelof, stricken with stage fright, let Depoitre in five minutes later.

Moments after Jonas Lossl beat away Herrera’s 77th-minute header, Lukaku was allowed to cut onto his right foot and provide a delivery beyond United’s wide men which Rashford tidily nodded in to provide a tense finale.

Chris Smalling was left unmarked and had a shot blocked, Lossl dropped a cross.

Huddersfie­ld had parked the bus and United could not crack a window.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom