Mourinho strikes gold with Rash decision...

THE SPECIAL ONE IGNORES HIS CRITICS TO PROVE HE’S GOT THE MIDAS TOUCH AS DETERMINED UNITED SNATCH DESERVED LATE WINNER

JOSE Mourinho proved he really has got the Midas touch as his United snatched victory at Hull City.

With the Reds needing a fresh foothold back into the game, he finally brought on Marcus Rashford in the 71st minute.

He was lambasted on social media for not making the big call and failing to take a subdued and out of sorts Wayne Rooney off for the Mancunian.

But just when United were set to lose their first two points of the season, it was the Old Trafford captain whose footwork on the byline created an added-on time chance for Rashford to score the winner. Mourinho can do no wrong so far.

This was certainly the biggest test of his United stint so far. Mike Phelan’s Hull City asked far more questions of Mourinho’s side than Southampton and Bournemouth previously.

Phelan’s background certainly came into play and the Tigers’ caretaker boss appeared to have nicked a few copies of Sir Alex Ferguson’s blueprint. They were snappy in the tackle and on occasions even managed to play around Paul Pogba in midfield.

With Marouane Fellaini giving away a dangerous quota of free kicks, this was United under the cosh for spells. In the last few seasons, opponents would have made hay as chins hit chests.

But this isn’t a Reds side any more who’ll sag when the going gets tough. With characters like Pogba and Ibrahimovic, that’s unlikely to happen.

United rode out the mini-storms and created far more chances than Hull were able to during moments of supremacy.

Whereas last term you ripped your hair out in despair wondering if an opposition keeper might actually get tested, Hull’s Eldin Jakupovic couldn’t enjoy the same comfort.

You had to wonder if the adrenaline of a visit from United, plus a 100 per cent Premier League start for Hull, would wear off at some point.

But it didn’t flag. The questions kept coming for United. Could Pogba stamp his authority on midfield? Could Ibrahimovic break free of the claustrophobic marking? Could Wayne Rooney bring something to the party? Could Marcus Rashford or Henrikh Mkhitaryan inspire in their first appearances in the league?

It was the Armenian who had the most in his armoury to start giving it back to the Tigers.

Rashford too almost made the most of his chance to illuminate an evening on the field that was being lit up by an electric storm above Humberside as soon as he came on, sending in a shot on target.

United wouldn’t give up and you have to be grateful for one of the old traits that Mourinho looks like he might have revived.

The Reds impressively kept pressing as Hull had to descend into lashing balls into no-man’s land to relieve the late pressure with United hoping they might just switch off for one critical second.

There was a gasp of horror from the home fans when the fourth official put up the four added minutes on his board. They knew this was a different United they’d been told about while they were in the Championship last season.

They just knew what was coming. And it did.