Rashford puts United back in pole position...in race for 6th!
Sobering sign of the times for club who used to rule
GREATER Manchester’s traffic department have had to absorb their share of criticism in recent years as the city choked in the grip of a series of major roadworks projects. Like the rest of us, it appears, they have turned to sport for some light relief.
When Australia came to town to play the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in the wake of their defeat at Headingley, digital signs billed the match as ‘ Sir Ben Stokes v Australia’ and advised commuters to ‘sand minutes off your journey’ by taking the tram.
Yesterday, they welcomed Leicester to the city with another message of advice to use public transport but headlined it with the banner that the match between the visitors and Manchester United was ‘The Race for Sixth’. It was written, at a guess, by a Manchester City fan.
If it was the Race for Sixth, United ended in pole position. They are not going to challenge Liverpool or City for the title this season but this victory over Brendan Rodgers’ hitherto unbeaten side suggested they may not be destined for the ignominy of mid-table, either, as many of their detractors claimed they would be.
In light of United’s worst start to a league season for 27 years, many were confidently predicting a Leicester victory at Old Trafford and another dollop of pressure being loaded on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But United secured a deserved victory and moved above their opponents into the top four.
Marcus Rashford scored the United winner from the spot after eight minutes and nearly added to the margin of victory in the closing stages with a free- kick that hit the crossbar. Scott McTominay dominated midfield for United and nullified Youri Tielemans and James Maddison for long periods.
Harry Maguire was booed lustily by the Leicester fans after his £80million summer move from the King Power Stadium but he, too, excelled.
United started strongly, tearing i nto Leicester, pressing t hem relentlessly. McTominay, who is growing in stature with every game and becoming a key player in Solskjaer’s plans, was at the heart of it. He overwhelmed the creative players in the Leicester midfield of whom so much had been expected.
‘He is learning his new role as a sitting midfielder,’ said Solskjaer. ‘If an opponent is trying to intimidate us, he is the first one to stand up. I wouldn’t want to go into a 5050 tackle with him.’
Ashley Young has been pilloried by some United fans but it was his superb early ball to Daniel James that set the tone for United. James took it well on the run and was shaping to shoot when he was brought down by Ricardo on the edge of the area.
Andreas Pereira’s resulting freekick was heading for the top corner until Kasper Schmeichel scrambled to his right to push it away.
United’s defensive shortcomings were soon exposed, though. A hopeful Leicester long ball was allowed to bounce 40 yards out, Victor Lindelof misjudged it and Maddison wrestled his way in front of him. Maddison managed to get his shot away and it hit David de Gea’s legs, then n squirted away for a corner. It was a fortunate unate stop, the first instalment ment of the bumper new contract the Spanish keeper is reported to have signed. United heeded the warning and forced their way into the lead with their next attack. When Hamza Choudhury and Pereira challenged in the Leicester area, the ball ran loose. Rashford got to it first and went down under the challenge of Caglar Soyuncu. There did not appear to be much contact but referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and Rashford converted with aplomb. ‘It was a harsh decision,’ said Rodgers. ‘But I think it was a penalty. Rashford is cute and bright and he is waiting for the contact and he gets the penalty. Our performances are getting better and better but there is still a lot of work for us to do.’ Leicester tried to force their way level but Tielemans and Maddison struggled to find the space they needed to prompt Jamie Vardy. Uni ted’ s attitude was exemplified by a fullblooded challenge from McTominay on Ben Chilwell which went unpunished but left the England left back complaining about McTominay’s follow-through. Chilwelln early gained a measure of revenge after half an hour when he chested down a headed h clearance from fr Maguire on the edge ed of the United box and volleyed goalwards. The ball ba was dipping under the bar until un De Gea arched his back to push it over.
Maguire was revelling in the villain status conferred on him by the travelling fans and when he read a pass meant for Demarai Gray, intercepted it and left Gray in a heap on the turf, he stood on the ball imperiously for a second before playing it square.
Leicester went close 10 minutes after the interval when McTominay was, for once, caught out of position and fouled Tielemans on the edge of the box. Maddison whistled his free-kick just over the bar.
United kept Leicester at bay after that. The visitors managed one ball over the top to Vardy but Lindelof was equal to it. Just. And with seven minutes left, United almost extended their lead when Rashford crashed his free-kick against the Leicester crossbar.
Leicester nearly equalised in injury time when Wilfred Ndidi lashed a volley just wide but United clung on. Fourth place in the Race for Sixth was not a bad return from a promising afternoon.