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Manchester United travelled to Bramall Lane on Sunday to face Sheffield United, well aware that a win could take them to 5th in the table. Solskjaer’s men were impressive before the International break and had 4 wins in the last 5 games in all competitions. United had also won 3 of their last 4 away games in all competitions and were slowly beginning to put together a good run of games. However, on Sunday they were up against a Sheffield United side that fared better than them in the Premier League so far.
To make matters worse, Solskjaer’s injury problems showed no signs of ending. The Norwegian was without Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba for the game, which gave him a bit of a headache as he named his first eleven.
Manchester United Starting XI: David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Brandon Williams; Fred, Andreas Pereira; Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Daniel James.
The home team started the game well and went ahead in the 19th minute through John Fleck. The first half ended 1-0 as United struggled to create chances. After the break, Sheffield United doubled the lead through Lys Mousset in the 52nd minute. It appeared that the home side were running away with the game, but United got a goal back through Brandon Williams in the 72nd minute. In the 77th minute, Mason Greenwood made it 2-2 for the visitors, while 2 minutes later, Rashford gave United the lead. However, Sheffield United got their equalizer through Oli McBurnie’s 90th-minute goal and the game ended 3-3.
Even though United could only manage a draw, Solskjaer will be happy with the efforts of these 5 men, who were impressive for the Red Devils.
5. Anthony Martial
The Frenchman had a relatively quiet first half, where he had fewer touches than David de Gea. Anthony Martial struggled at the lack of opportunities and registered United's only shot on target in the first half. After the break, with a change in the system, Martial had a lot more support and he slowly clawed back into the game, helping United find their rhythm in the final third.
His movement and hold up play allowed the players around him to flourish. Martial also worked in tandem with Rashford and James to pile the pressure on the home defense. His build-up play with the Welshman was particularly crucial for United's third goal of the game.
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4. Mason Greenwood
As soon as Brandon William scored in the 72nd minute, Solskjaer perhaps had an intuition that his team could turn things around. He turned to his bench and opted to bring Mason Greenwood in for the underperforming Andreas Pereira. The Brazilian had struggled against the Blades’ physical approach and had been one of the poorest players on the pitch. Solskjaer needed another goalscorer in his team to get something out of the game and he turned to the young Englishman, who had already impressed from the bench on quite a few occasions in the Premier League.
Greenwood’s introduction meant that United suddenly had a natural goal scorer into the mix. The youngster’s movement and sense of anticipation would turn out to be vital for United soon. In the 77th minute, following some neat exchanges in the final third, the ball fell to Rashford, who sent in a low cross into the box. Greenwood reacted quickest and beat his marker to get to the end of the ball and scored to draw United level. It was an instantaneous impact that showed the immense potential the youngster was blessed with. It is only a matter of time before Solskjaer is forced to give him his first start in the Premier League.
3. Daniel James
The Welshman might prefer playing on the left-hand side of the field but he had done a commendable job on the right side for the Red Devils. That had helped Daniel James cement his place in the team of late. Against the Blades, he started from the right once more but spent the majority of the first half helping Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal with the threat of the opposition. Because United failed to create an outlet for him to run through the channels, the Welshman cut a frustrated figure in the first half. On the few occasions that he did have an opportunity to run at the opposition, his final balls and decision making were not up to the mark.
However, it is a credit to the character of James that he never stopped trying. In the 72nd minute, it was his initial cross that was headed into the path of Williams, who scored United’s first goal. After the Red Devils had drawn level, Daniel James continued to run at the defence and even switched back to the left. On one such occasion, the Welshman combined very well with Anthony Martial, playing a one-two to get behind the home defence and into the box. James did have an opportunity to score, but he showed his selfless side, preferring instead to lay the ball back to Rashford, who scored United’s third of the game.
2. Marcus Rashford
Like the rest of the team, the Englishman had a quiet first half, where he rarely saw the ball and could not muster a single shot on target in the first half. He did have one attempt but it had sailed harmlessly into the crowd. The failure of the United midfield to pick him up hurt his chances, but Marcus Rashford never stopped running and working hard. He switched places with James and dropped down to help Williams on quite a few occasions.
After Solskjaer introduced Mason Greenwood and Jesse Lingard in the second up, Rashford suddenly had a lot of support in the final third. It gave him the freedom to drift across the frontline and also the confidence to try something different. After Brandon William’s goal, Rashford set up Greenwood to draw United level and brought his team back into the tie. 2 minutes later, he had taken United ahead.
Fantastic build-up play between Daniel James and Anthony Martial saw the Welshman run free into the box. James then had the composure to spot Rashford and find him in space with a perfect drag back. The Englishman scored with his left and gave United the lead.
1. Brandon Williams
The youngster had impressed for United this season and was one of the best players on the pitch against Brighton. As a result, Brandon Williams was preferred ahead of Ashley Young against Sheffield on Sunday. The youngster started as a wingback in the first half and struggled to get a firm foothold in the game. After Solskjaer shifted back to a back 4 in the second half, the Englishman was reinstated in his left-back role and he slowly started to affect the game.
Williams grew more adventurous with every passing minute and got heavily involved in the game. He also took up more defensive responsibilities and dealt with everything that came through his side. The Englishman attempted 50 passes with 82% passing accuracy, including 2 key passes. However, it was in the 72nd minute that Williams kick-started United’s fight-back in the game.
With Sheffield United leading 2-0 and the game increasingly going out of United’s hands, the Englishman received the ball at the edge of the box and scored to get United back into the game. It started a response from United and even though the Red Devils ended up drawing the game, Williams managed to impress once again.
