Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United: Dalot stunner secures back-to-back wins for visitors

Manchester United won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season, defeating Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane, their 10th consecutive victory over newly promoted teams.

It was a solemn evening under the lights in Yorkshire, with a minute of applause before kick-off held in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton, whose death had been announced earlier in the day.

The hosts got off to a better start than the visitors, as Andre Onana was called into action within three minutes to deny Oli McBurnie.

The Blades continued to dominate the first half without threatening the United goal, and it was the Red Devils who broke the deadlock near the half-hour mark.

Scott McTominay, the man of the moment for club and country, continued his prolific scoring form by chesting a ball in the box from Bruno Fernandes and volleying past a stranded Wes Foderingham.

The Scotsman, however, was involved in Sheffield United's equalizer almost immediately after the restart when the ball struck his arm in the box, and his international teammate McBurnie buried the resulting spot-kick.

Erik ten Hag's men responded well before the break, with Fernandes hitting a free-kick against the crossbar and Rasmus Hojlund being denied from close range by Foderingham, as the Dutch manager was forced to inspire his players to victory in his half-time team talk.

Instead, Paul Heckingbottom's side got off to a better start after the break, with Onana called into action twice early on, first saving from Oliver Norwood and then tipping substitute Rhian Brewster's shot over the bar.

Ten Hag himself turned to his bench, making a triple substitution on the hour mark, a move that undoubtedly sharpened up the visitors, who had taken complete control of the game. Sofyan Amrabat was the next to threaten for the Red Devils, smashing the upright with a piledriver from the edge of the box.

Despite the attacking changes, United's second goal was scored by a combination of their two full-backs. Victor Lindelof picked out Diogo Dalot outside the box, and the Portuguese international rifled a powerful shot into the top corner despite Foderingham's best efforts.

A second comeback would not come, leaving the Blades at the bottom of the table with just one point from their first nine games.
Ten Hag's men moved into the top eight after winning back-to-back away league matches for the first time in 2023.

SportsLigue