Solskjaer: Step up to help Bruno
OLE GUNNAR
SOLSKJAER has urged his Manchester United players to take some of the derby-day strain off talisman Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes (below) has led by example to top the Old Trafford scoring charts with 22 goals this season.
But Solskjaer feels the Portuguese midfielder, 26, needs some help after failing to find the target in his last three games, his side having gone goalless each time.
“I think taking responsibility is important for everyone when they play football,” said the United boss.
“You don’t wait for things to happen – you’ve got to make things happen.
And we expect everyone to be a leader, everyone to take that responsibility.
“Sometimes in football they try to stop your best player.
“That’s when someone else will have to step forward.”
CHE ADAMS owes his rise to stardom to Sheffield United – but the former Blade put a dagger in their slim hopes of a miracle recovery.
Adams was just a teenager making his way at Bramall Lane before moving on to Birmingham and then Southampton.
And after drawing another blank in a season where their struggle for goals has proved so costly, how Chris Wilder must have wished Adams was still one of his.
Adams, now 24, scored the decisive second goal just after half time with a thunderous rising shot.
It condemned Wilder’s men to their 22nd defeat of a dreadful season.
By contrast, for Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl it was a dream day as he celebrated his 100th game in charge.
It’s been a rough ride at times but Adams made it a day to remember as the Saints stopped the rot with a first win in 10 league games.
“The first win after a long time is always an important one. I think it was deserved, a good performance. It feels good,” said the Austrian boss.
“The team did what we had to do against a side fighting for everything.
“There have been some ups and downs in the 100 games, some beautiful times in the sunshine and some not so good ones. But wins here make life more fun than anywhere for me.”
Southampton’s Danny Ings went down just minutes into the game but man of the match Nathan Tella made sure the Saints didn’t miss their main man, who was replaced by Adams.
Flying machine
Tella, who spent 10 years in Arsenal’s academy, was only making his second start. But from the off he showed his sharpness. Ibrahim Diallo launched a targeted pass forward for
Tella who was sent tumbling by Ethan Ampadu to leave Paul Tierney rightly pointing to the spot.
Skipper James Wardprowse (above) fired home the spot-kick and Adams killed the game with his 49th-minute strike – his first since scoring against his old club in December.
Blades boss Wilder said: “The better side won. We looked tired in body and minds second half and gave away a really poor second goal after three or four mistakes.
“It looked a game too far for us.”
A FIRST goal in 13 months from Adam Masina gave Watford a sixth win in seven and put them second.
Great work by Ismaila Sarr set up left-back Masina (right) for the crucial strike.
Hornets boss Xisco Munoz, who told Masina to venture forward more often, said: “He is a very good player, and right now is the moment to push him and challenge him. He showed very good ambition today.’’ Forest’s Lyle Taylor had a goal rightly ruled out for offside, but they created little.
Boss Chris Hughton said: “In the final third, Watford looked more threatening than we did, but they were fine margins.’’
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