Solskjaer gets off to a flyer as Reds are back on form
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a dream start to life at the helm as Manchester United. The Reds struck five in the league for the first time since Ferguson’s final match at the helm in May 2013.
Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial all scored in an entertaining first half, with Jesse Lingard’s second-half brace sealing a 5-1 win at Solskjaer’s former club Cardiff.
Entertaining, coherent and attack-minded – it was all that United had not been under Mourinho. The players looked re-energised under Solskjaer.
Neil Warnock’s spirited Cardiff side faced an uphill battle to secure a fourth successive home win from the third minute.
Pogba earned a free-kick that Rashford hit sweetly from nigh on 30 yards, sending it swerving into the bottom right-hand corner.
As the half-hour mark approached, Pogba created a timely second. He showed strength to knock Sol Bamba off the ball and then found Herrera with a sublime pass. The Spaniard’s attempt took a deflection off Greg Cunningham and flew into the top right corner.
Cardiff got themselves back into proceedings as Rashford was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Camarasa struck a fierce penalty to give the home side hope.
Martial galloped from the halfway line and passed to Pogba, who played on to Lingard. He laid it off with his first touch for Martial to collect and prod home.
United continued in the ascendancy after the break, with Rashford forcing a save out of Etheridge before Lingard was brought down in the box.
The referee pointed to the spot and Lingard sent the Cardiff goalkeeper the wrong way.
Josh Murphy was denied by De Gea in a rare voyage forward by the home side, before Etheridge superbly tipped over Pogba’s dipping effort.
Bamba came close and Kenneth Zohore was denied as play became stretched, with United getting a fifth at the death as Pogba slipped in Lingard to round Etheridge and slot home.