Manchester United secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. In a tense relegation scrap for the Blades and a crucial match for United’s top-four hopes, the points went the way of the Red Devils thanks to a Bruno Fernandes brace and goals from Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund.
Manchester United player POV: The roar of the crowd was deafening as we took the field. Old Trafford was electric tonight, the tension thick enough to chew on. Sheffield United, fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, weren’t here to play nice. We knew it would be a battle, and from the first whistle, it was clear they weren’t going down without a fight.
Match Highlights:
- Sheffield United took a surprise lead twice in the match, through Jayden Bogle and Ben Brenton Diaz.
- Harry Maguire equalized for United just before halftime with a powerful header.
- Bruno Fernandes scored twice in the second half, including the winner with 15 minutes remaining.
- Substitute Rasmus Hojlund added a late goal to seal the win for United.
- You can watch the match highlights on YouTube: youtube.com.
Statistics:
- Possession: Manchester United 72% – Sheffield United 28%
- Shots on Target: Manchester United 13 – Sheffield United 4
- Saves: Manchester United 3 – Sheffield United 6
Player Ratings:
Manchester United:
- Onana (6): Made some important saves to keep United in the game.
- D. Dalot (7): Solid defensively and provided good attacking width.
- H. Maguire (8): Scored a crucial goal and led the defence well.
- Casemerio (7): Composed in possession and made some key tackles.
- Wan-Bissaka (6): Had a shaky first half but improved in the second.
- K. Mainoo (6): Energetic in midfield but sometimes struggled with distribution.
- Eriksen (7): Creative in the middle of the park and set up Fernandes’ first goal.
- B. Fernandes (9): Man of the match with two goals and an assist.
- Antony (6): Quiet game but occasionally linked up well with Fernandes.
- Garnacho (6): Worked hard but lacked a cutting edge in attack.
- R. Hojilund (6): Scored a goal for the Red Devils and caused problems for the Blade’s defence.
Sheffield United:
- W. Foderingham (8): Made some fantastic saves to keep United at bay.
- M. Holgate (6): Defended well but struggled against United’s attack in the second half.
- Ahmedhodzic (7): Solid at the back and a good leader for the Blades.
- Trusty (6): Booked for a cynical foul on Fernandes.
- Osborn (5): Got out of position for a couple of United goals.
- Brooks (6): Worked hard in midfield but lacked creativity.
- G. Hamer (5): Booked for a late challenge on McTominay.
- O.L. Arblaster (6): Provided some attacking threat down the wing.
- J. Bogle (7): Scored a goal for the Blades and caused problems for United’s defence.
- Archer (6): Had a couple of chances but couldn’t convert.
- O. Norwood: Came on as a late substitute.
Looking back, it was a rollercoaster of a match. We weren’t at our best, credit to Sheffield United for making it difficult. But the resilience the lads showed was fantastic. Twice we went behind, but they never gave up, kept plugging away, and ultimately found a way to win. Bruno was phenomenal, a real leader on the pitch. A massive three points for our top-four push. Now, we need to regroup, analyse this performance, and be ready for another tough battle against Burnley.
What’s Next:
- Manchester United face Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday, April 27th.
- Sheffield United Travel to Newcastle on the same day.
This win keeps Manchester United’s top-four hopes alive, while Sheffield United remains rock bottom of the Premier League and faces an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
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