Superb Dalot effort helps Man Utd to narrow win

2 years ago 49
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Diogo Dalot scores for Manchester UnitedDiogo Dalot's winner was only his second goal in 78 Premier League appearances for Manchester United

Diogo Dalot curled home a suitably spectacular winner as Manchester United secured the win they craved over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to mark the passing of legendary former player Sir Bobby Charlton.

Having said before the game United 'have to win for Sir Bobby' following the announcement of Charlton's passing four hours before kick-off, it was appropriate in-form midfielder Scott McTominay should put the visitors ahead with a well-taken effort just before the half hour.

But after Oli McBurnie had drilled a superb penalty into the corner after McTominay had handled just six minutes later, it was left to Dalot to provide the appropriate ending in honour of the man who scored so many memorable goals during the 17 years at Old Trafford in which he became one of the greatest Englishman to ever lace up his boots.

Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham got his hand to Dalot's well-struck 25-yard effort but was unable to keep it out as it rippled into the roof of the net.

It was harsh luck on the home side, who were the better for long periods, particularly in the first-half.

But they lack the touch of class needed to go with their eye-catching approach play and, with one point from nine games, remain bottom of the Premier League and in massive trouble with less than a quarter of the campaign gone.

For Erik ten Hag's side, it was a game they had to win if they are not to lose touch completely with their top four rivals although, on a day like today, paying a fitting tribute to Charlton's memory provided their main motivation.

Man Utd struggles continue despite win

Charlton is one of the most significant figures in the storied history of Manchester United that the current crop of players are finding it difficult to live up to.

Even in victory, at times they looked disjointed.

Their struggles were encapsulated in stoppage time when Antony Martial was presented with a three-on-one situation as he bore down on the home goal.

Martial elected to go left to fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho rather than right to Bruno Fernandes. Garnacho put the chance wide, but it transpired he had run offside anyway.

Sofyan Amrabat operated as a de-facto quarter-back, playing deeper than Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, who were given the responsibility of starting attacks but rarely did so with any speed or purpose.

Fernandes flicked a first-half free-kick off the crossbar and Amrabat's long-range effort thudded against the other one after the break.

However, other than an excellent save from Foderingham to deny Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford sending an low effort wide of the far post, the visitors were not convincing, until Dalot stepped in to win it.

More to follow.

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Sheffield United

  1. Squad number18Player nameFoderingham

  2. Squad number20Player nameBogle

  3. Squad number5Player nameTrusty

  4. Squad number19Player nameRobinson

  5. Squad number14Player nameThomas

  6. Squad number28Player nameMcAtee

  7. Squad number16Player nameNorwood

  8. Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza

  9. Squad number8Player nameHamer

  10. Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie

  11. Squad number10Player nameArcher

  1. Squad number7Player nameBrewster

  2. Squad number11Player nameTraoré

  3. Squad number23Player nameOsborn

Manchester United

  1. Squad number24Player nameOnana

  2. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Dalot

  3. Squad number5Player nameMaguire

  4. Squad number35Player nameEvans

  5. Squad number2Player nameLindelöf

  6. Squad number4Player nameS Amrabat

  7. Squad number39Player nameMcTominay

  8. Squad number21Player nameAntony

  9. Squad number8Player nameBruno Fernandes

  10. Squad number10Player nameRashford

  11. Squad number11Player nameHøjlund

  1. Squad number7Player nameMount

  2. Squad number9Player nameMartial

  3. Squad number14Player nameEriksen

  4. Squad number17Player nameGarnacho

  5. Squad number19Player nameVarane

Line-ups

Sheff Utd

Formation 4-4-2

  • 18Foderingham
  • 20Bogle
  • 5TrustyBooked at 45mins
  • 19Robinson
  • 14ThomasBooked at 37mins
  • 28McAteeSubstituted forOsbornat 78'minutes
  • 16Norwood
  • 21de Souza CostaBooked at 62mins
  • 8HamerSubstituted forTraoréat 84'minutes
  • 9McBurnieSubstituted forBrewsterat 52'minutes
  • 10Archer

Substitutes

  • 4Fleck
  • 7Brewster
  • 11Traoré
  • 23Osborn
  • 25Ben Slimane
  • 26Oné
  • 37Amissah
  • 38Seriki
  • 40Buyabu

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 24Onana
  • 20Dalot
  • 5Maguire
  • 35EvansBooked at 82minsSubstituted forVaraneat 84'minutes
  • 2Lindelöf
  • 4S Amrabat
  • 39McTominaySubstituted forEriksenat 63'minutes
  • 21AntonySubstituted forGarnachoat 64'minutes
  • 8Bruno Fernandes
  • 10RashfordSubstituted forMountat 88'minutes
  • 11HøjlundSubstituted forMartialat 63'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Bayindir
  • 7Mount
  • 9Martial
  • 14Eriksen
  • 17Garnacho
  • 19Varane
  • 28Pellistri
  • 34van de Beek
  • 46Mejbri

Referee:Michael Oliver

Attendance:31,543

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Manchester United 2.

  2. Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Manchester United 2.

  3. Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).

  4. Auston Trusty (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.

  6. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  7. Foul by Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United).

  8. Offside, Manchester United. Anthony Martial tries a through ball, but Alejandro Garnacho is caught offside.

  9. Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Osborn with a cross.

  10. Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Mount replaces Marcus Rashford.

  11. Attempt missed. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes following a corner.

  12. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jack Robinson.

  13. Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

  14. Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).

  15. Bénie Traoré (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Attempt blocked. Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross.

  17. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Raphaël Varane.

  18. Substitution, Sheffield United. Bénie Traoré replaces Gustavo Hamer.

  19. Substitution, Manchester United. Raphaël Varane replaces Jonny Evans because of an injury.

  20. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

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