Reds feeling right at home on away days
IN the space of just over seven weeks this year, United won as many domestic away games as they had in the previous 12 months. One of the biggest weaknesses of the Erik ten Hag era had, suddenly, become a strength.
Granted, two of those wins were at League One Wigan and League Two Newport County, but the success at Villa Park is the best away win of the Ten Hag era, the win at Wolves was an excellent performance and the victories at Luton and Nottingham Forest featured plenty of grit.
Those six successive away wins were halted by City at the Etihad. There is no shame in that. Now the challenge is to prove that the sudden liking to away days is no fluke.
Back-to-back trips to west London this week are going to be vital in United’s attempts to reel in Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Ten Hag’s team should certainly head to Brentford and Chelsea confident of making an impact. The former are in wretched form and have been dragged into a battle against the drop, while the latter are unpredictable and were dominated at Old Trafford earlier this season.
The transformation in the away form has been both remarkable and unexpected, but it has also flown under the radar. To put those six straight away wins into context, United had won just six of their previous 17 domestic away games.
Despite the difficulties presented this season, the record away from home has been an improvement on last season. United have won 10 domestic away games in all competitions having managed just nine last season.
The quality of the victories this season has also been an upgrade.
The best away success last season was either the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win at Nottingham Forest or the last-gasp league su success at Fulham. Having beaten n nobody higher than ninth on the ro road last season wins at Villa and Wolves are an improvement.
Then there was the 3-0 win at a seething Goodison Park in November. b The atmosphere and the narrative ti were against United that day but they struck early, rode their luck a little bit and then finished Everton off on the break. Putting your finger on a reason for the improvement in away form is difficult, but an improvement on the counter attack is probably key.
Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford have started scoring goals and both are a real threat on the break, while Alejandro Garnacho has also been in excellent form.
Then there is the form of Andre Onana, who excelled in the wins at Forest and Villa especially. The Reds continue to allow the opposition plenty of shots but their goalkeeper is making plenty of saves as well.
But having had their momentum halted at the Etihad, United must return to their best away form now.
Half of their final 10 Premier League games are away from Old Trafford, including those two this week. The Reds will probably need to win seven or eight of those games to get back in the Champions League, so it is a simple equation that they will need to win away from home.
Ten Hag’s team should certainly head to Brentford and Chelsea confident of making an impact
Tyrone Marshall
Unlike last season, they can’t rely on their Old Trafford form this season. There have been 10 domestic wins at home this term, the same number as away from home.
With Liverpool and Arsenal both still to come to Old Trafford, United’s best route to getting the results they need might be on their travels.
Trips to Brentford, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Brighton are all winnable. Tick two off that list this week and they will suddenly find themselves in serious contention for a top-five finish.