BEVERLY HILLS, December 17, (THEWILL) – A brace from forward Marcus Rashford saved stand-in keeper Dean Henderson from censure as Manchester United yet again had to come from behind to beat bottom of the table Sheffield United 3-2 at Bramall Lane on Thursday.
Henderson, starting because of an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer squad rotation, gifted his former Blades teammates the lead in the fifth minute. He tarried on the ball longer than was necessary and Oliver Burke seized the moment to set up David McGoldrick for an easy goal.
John Fleck, left unmarked in the United area in the 18th minute threw away the chance to double the bottom side’s lead. Instead, he fired wide from just inside the penalty area after Phil Jagielka replaced the injured Sander Berge.
That was all Man U needed to switch gears. In a brief seven-minute period, a ruthless Red Devils performance turned the game around as United equalised and went ahead with two goals. Rashford controlled Victor Lindelof’s over the top ball with a great first touch and clinically powered a right-footed shot home.
The second came via French connection as midfielder Paul Pogba set up national team-mate Anthony Martial with a brilliant first-time through-ball to put United in front.
In a devastating counter started by a brilliant Pogba pass, Rashford was at the end of it and his shot sneaked in under the body of Aaron Ramsdale to settle in the net, providing Solskjaer’s side a two-goal cushion six minutes into the second half.
The Blades defended stoutly to deny Martial a brace of his own. Then, with three minutes to go, Lindelof’s headed clearance from a corner hit McGoldrick’s head and went in to give the Blades hope.
But, salvaging a point from the tie proved to be beyond Sheffield after Henderson produced a brilliant save to deny Lys Mousset in stoppage time.
United have made a habit of conceding first and have had to come from behind to win all six top-flight matches away from home. The loss means the Blades remain rooted at the bottom of the table with just one point after 13 games while United go up to sixth.
Sheffield are up next against Brighton at the American Express Community Stadium on Sunday. On the same day, Man U welcome Leeds to Old Trafford.
