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It looks like Manchester United's season will feature spells of quality and spells of utter embarrassment in tandem. On a night where they started so brightly and set up perhaps the best team goal they've scored this season, another tepid performance with the lead in hand ensured Frank Lampard stole the game from under his former master's nose.
Juan Mata put United ahead with a delightful finish after some brilliant play on the left wing by Anthony Martial. Derby County were relentless in attack and particularly so in the second half. Their efforts finally bore fruit as Harry Wilson struck an absolute beauty from about 30 yards out from a freekick that left Sergio Romero flatfooted and sinking to his knees.
Romero's "brain fade" moment came shortly after and United were reduced to 10 men as the Argentinian goalkeeper handled the ball outside the area. It looked like there was no coming back for Jose Mourinho's men as Marriott tapped in off a rebound in the 85th minute.
However, the Fellaini plan worked for Mourinho and he headed home in the 95th minute of the game to drag the game to penalties.
After 15 penalties were successively scored, Phil Jones' tame attempt was stopped by Scott Carson and Derby put the icing on a surprising win at Old Trafford.
Without further delay, let's take a look at the 3 reasons why Manchester United suffered a defeat at home against Derby County.
#3 Romelu Lukaku has a lot to improve
When he was playing for Belgium in the World Cup, Romelu Lukaku looked like he's coming of age. But in the United shirt, he looks anything but. He has missed more sitters than he has scored since the start of the campaign and it will soon start to frustrate the ones providing him service from either side.
Last night, Lukaku broke free and was one on one with Carson before pulling his shot way wide of the woodwork. Subsequently, Martial dinked the ball into a dangerous territory after a jinking run. Scott Carson couldn't climb to reach it and Lukaku was there to collect behind him. However, with all of the goal to see and the crossbar providing a pictorial border, Lukaku fired high.
He then hit the post in the second half when United were trailing. Manchester United are creating enough chances to kill off games. But with this man leading the line, they're just not finishing them off.
#2 That Sergio Romero mistake
More than anything, it's Romero's absurd decision to prance outside his area and stop the ball with his left hand that cost United the most. To be fair, his defence left him with very few options and he chose the worst.
That Romero mistake came when the score was 1-1. Derby County now had the advantage and could calmly pass the ball out from the back and build their attacks and that's exactly what they went on to do.
If they could have held on for a bit longer, the game would have been sealed in normal time and the victory would have been even sweeter.
However, Lee Grant, former Derby player, put in quite a shift after coming on. He made a brilliant save to his left to start off proceedings in a red shirt and was unlucky to have conceded United's second after doing so well to stop the initial shot.
#1 Complacency is this Manchester United team's biggest enemy
Manchester United have now gone 3 games without a win at Old Trafford. Also, United have failed to win 2 successive games after taking the lead. They should have killed the game off in the first quarter of the 90 minutes. They didn't and there was hell to pay.
Defenders were switching off- the red card incident is a perfect example. Matic was trying too hard to wriggle out into space and got caught with the ball on a number of occasions. Martial's build-up play was excellent while his finishing was often casual.
Lukaku needs to bury the chances he gets as though his life depends on it. Manchester United need to wake up and make the best of every single minute of the 90 if they're to even dream of having a half decent season this time around.
