Sheffield United vs Manchester United. Premier League.
Bramall Lane.
Report and free match highlights as Man Utd become the first side to win six successive away games after conceding first in a single Premier League season; Sheffield United scored an early opener, but goals from Marcus Rashford (2) and Anthony Martial secured a tenth away league win
Friday 18 December 2020 06:54, UK
Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United came from behind again to win 3-2 at Sheffield United and extend their Premier League away winning run to 10 games.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have become the first side to win six successive away games after conceding first in a single Premier League season and it came after an unhappy start to life back on the Bramall Lane pitch for Dean Henderson.
The goalkeeper was named in the Man Utd starting XI against the side he had spent the last two seasons on loan with and gifted Sheffield United an early opener (5). He was caught in possession by Oliver Burke, with David McGoldrick slotting home into an empty net.
But with their history this season, a Man Utd comeback was likely as Rashford scored a stunning equaliser (26), before Anthony Martial (33) rounded Aaron Ramsdale to put the visitors ahead at the break with his first league goal of the season.
Rashford (51) - who was awarded the FIFA Fair Play award before the game for his work to end child poverty - finished a wonderful team goal shortly after the break and McGoldrick (87) made it a nervy finish late on as he headed home his second of the game.
But Sheffield United could not summon the spirit of last season's 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane as Man Utd saw the game out for another away victory, moving into sixth and level on points with Everton. For the Blades, they remain rock bottom of the Premier League with one point.
Henderson would have been relishing a chance to start again his former team-mates but Sheffield United took advantage of some ponderous Man Utd play to take an early lead.
Oliver Burke caught Henderson out in possession as the goalkeeper passed the ball between his two centre-backs, striding across to knock the ball away from Henderson's feet. As he scrambled to collect the ball, Burke tapped it into the lurking McGoldrick just behind before slotting home into an empty net.
The equaliser was not far behind though as Rashford levelled things up in the 26th minute with a sensational effort, running in behind the Blades defence to collect a long, lofted pass from Victor Lindelof. His first touch controlled the ball sublimely before the second smashed an effort past the unwitting Aaron Ramsdale.
Seven minutes later and Man Utd took the lead. The pick of the move was a sensational ball from Pogba to send Martial through, doing so with his first touch from a Bruno Fernandes pass. Ramsdale came racing off his line to meet Martial, but his attempt to smother the ball only allowed the striker to round him before flicking the ball home with a toe.
Both teams could have added another before the break. Man Utd hit their hosts with a thundering break, Martial driving at the Sheffield United defence before slotting in Rashford down the left of the area. However, his effort was saved by the foot of Ramsdale. At the other end, Henderson showed off a bit more confidence as McGoldrick tries his luck at the near post, but the goalkeeper saw it away with an outstretched leg.
The second half was dominated by Man Utd, who added a third goal early on to knock the Christmas stuffing out of the battling Blades. It was a sublime team goal, starting with some superb skill from Pogba deep inside his own half.
Man Utd then went on another lightening break - Michael Oliver doing well to play the advantage after a Phil Jagielka foul on Mason Greenwood - before Martial squared the ball for Rashford. It was then another thundering finish from the England forward as he scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Man Utd were mostly in control of the half - Ramsdale saving from Greenwood in the pick of the chances - but Sheffield United made it an interesting finish when McGoldrick added his own second of the evening. He rose to meet a corner, with his header ricocheting off the face of Lindelof before nestling in the back of the net.
Lys Mousset could have snatched another famous equaliser in the first minute of added time as he send a volley flying goalwards, but Henderson made a sensational, leaping save to keep him at bay as Sheffield United were condemned to their 12th defeat of the season.
It was a confident performance from Rashford, who was scintillating at times with Martial and Fernandes in support. He had a total of five shots - the most of the Man Utd team - with two of three on target finding the back of the net.
He also topped the charts for passes in the opposition half (40) and helped to win three fouls. Credit must also go to Paul Pogba, who despite all of the noise around his future, put in a superb performance and Martial finally broke his Premier League duck this season.
Rashford has now scored 43 goals under Solskjaer in all competitions - the most by any Manchester United player under a single manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said: "We weren't in a good place on Sunday night [against Southampton] and rightly so because I didn't enjoy that, I didn't enjoy watching my team, it was very unlike us.
"So I think Ole and his coaching staff and the players would accept that we were going to try and make it competitive tonight and show a reaction… In a lot of ways, it was [more like Sheffield United]. It was front foot, it was aggressive, we're disappointed with the goals we've conceded.
"The couple of goals that turned the game on its head were really preventable from our point of view.
"I'm not sitting here in rose-tinted glasses thinking we've dominated the game, we're playing Manchester United and regardless of opinions, they still have world class players and we try to bridge that gap, we try to make it competitive, we try to put good players under pressure.
"If Lys Mousset's shot is a couple of inches to Dean's right, I think it's a comfortable save and he's always going to make that, or it falls to Enda, then you come away with a point and the world is a brighter place with a positive performance for us."
Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "From when I was playing, we never seem to make it easy for ourselves. The start was sloppy and slow again and I'm very surprised by that because we'd spoken about it, showed videos, we knew exactly what was going to happen and it happened.
"We jogged around the pitch and that's not good enough but the character was fantastic from every single one of us. It is a test for Dean making a mistake like this and he passed it with flying colours. He never went chasing the game, he didn't look for jobs, he just did what he had to do.
"We got three points from a difficult game at a difficult place and it could have been more comfortable at the end but you don't expect it to be comfortable. The goals we scored were excellent and once in a while, you just have to accept that the opposition have got weapons and armoury that can hurt you and Sheffield United certainly have.
"We know Paul's strength in the air, we knew he was going to be important from set plays and goal kicks and long kicks, he won more or less every header. His vision and creativity we want as well so Paul has responded really well to the work he has been doing. He's fit now and it was an excellent performance.
"You've got to go one game at a time, every game is a cup final. It's going to be relentless with game after game after game but when you perform well, play well and win, you can't wait for the next one and it's a big one for us."
Sheffield United are back in action on Super Sunday, when they travel to Brighton, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 12pm. Manchester United are also live on Sky Sports on the same day when they host Leeds United; kick-off 4.30pm.
