Manchester United fought from behind twice to beat Sheffield United 4-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday in a crazy, error-strewn game.
Sheffield United twice took the lead in through Jayden Bogle and Ben Brereton Diaz after Harry Maguire had equalized in the first half.
Bruno Fernandes then took over as he scored a penalty and a stunner from distance to make it 3-2 and United’s Portuguese wizard then set up Rasmus Hojlund for the clincher late on after both teams continued to make mistakes to set up chances for their opponents.
With the win Erik ten Hag’s side move on to 53 points for the season and in to sixth place in the Premier League table with five games to go. Sheffield United remain rock bottom of the Premier League table on 16 points and are 10 points from safety with four games to go. The Blades also set a new Premier League record for the most goals conceded in a 38-game season, as they have now let in 92 goals.
Bruno Fernandes is in one of his moods
Manchester United’s playmaker Bruno Fernandes has now scored seven goals in his last five games for the Red Devils. He’s in one of his moods. The good ones. Very good ones. Fernandes smashed home a stunner to make it 3-2 and then set up Hojlund for the clincher with a wonderful piece of individual skill. On his day, few can match Fernandes’ quality on the ball. He was angry after the win against Coventry City on penalty kicks after United’s shocking collapse. Fernandes has never shirked the media or his responsibilities as United’s captain, no matter how tough it has got, and even if some United legends don’t agree with his gesticulations on the pitch during games, Bruno Fernandes cares deeply about United. Even in this current struggling side, which gave up so many chances to a woeful Sheffield United chance as they do every single game since the turn of the year, Fernandes is coming up in big moments. Whenever United need him he’s stood tall and his tally of 79 goals in 229 appearances equals 1 goal every 2.89 games. Fernandes has shown remarkable consistency over the last five seasons and if United finish in the top six and somehow beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup, you can bet that Bruno Fernandes was an influential figure in making it happen.
Manchester United vs Sheffield United player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Bruno Fernandes enjoyed himself but so did a few Sheffield United players with Ben Brereton Diaz a real handful up top. A special shoutout to Wes Foderingham who made plenty of top stops in goal and Bogle who worked so hard up and down the right flank for the Blades.
What’s next?
Manchester United host Burnley on Saturday, April 27, while Sheffield United head to Newcastle on the same day.
How to watch Manchester United vs Sheffield United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET Wednesday (April 24)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester United be Sheffield United live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester United vs Sheffield United final score: 4-2
Maguire 42', Fernandes 61', 81', Hojlund 85'; Bogle 35', Brereton Diaz 50'
Full time: Manchester United 4-2 Sheffield United
That was a bonkers game with so many defensive mistakes from both teams but Manchester United had too much quality in attack (and Bruno Fernandes) to seal the win. It wasn’t pretty but it puts them in sixth place.
Rasmus Hojlund finishes from close range - Manchester United 4-2 Sheffield United (85th minute)
A ball over the top finds Fernandes and he does so well to pick out the onrushing Hojlund who is brave as he finishes and gets clattered by Foderingham.
Bruno Fernandes scores a stunner - Manchester United 3-2 Sheffield United (81st minute)
For the first time today, Manchester United lead. Bruno Fernandes picks the ball up 30 yards out and smashes a beauty into the corner. He now has 15 goals for the season and United’s captain has scored seven goals in his last six Premier League games. Erik ten Hag with a small amount of applause on the sidelines. He is showing no real emotion but will clearly be very relieved given yet another bad performance.
Diaz again goes close
A corner finds Diaz at the near post and he rifles a shot on goal which Onana saves.
Brereton Diaz almost makes it 3-2 to the Blades!
Oh that was so close. The Chilean forward (who has been very lively throughout) is played in but is a long way from goal. His tame shot deflects off Maguire and has wrongfooted Onana and it looks like it’s going in... but the ball clips the outside of the post and goes wide for a corner.
Penalty kick to Manchester United! Fernandes scores - Manchester United 2-2 Sheffield United (61st minute)
Trusty wrestles Maguire to the floor and that is a clear penalty kick. The ball actually ended up in the net from Dalot but the referee had already blown his whistle. Fernandes steps up and sends Foderingham the wrong way as he smashes home.
Brilliant tackle from Trusty to deny Dalot a clear goal
USMNT defender Auston Trusty gets back just in time to stop Dalot, who was about to shoot and was clean through on goal after he wasn’t tracked at all by the Sheffield United defense. Brilliant defending from Trusty.
Ben Brereton Diaz slots home - Manchester United 1-2 Sheffield United (50th minute)
Sheffield United are back ahead as Hamer does superbly to turn on the edge of the box and play in Osborn who crosses for Brereton Diaz slots home.
Half time: Manchester United 1-1 Sheffield United
Man United created so many chances but were wasteful and Wes Foderingham was excellent in goal for Sheffield United. At the other end Andre Onana made a mistake and Bogle made him pay but Maguire flicked home to set up a frantic finish to the half as Man United should have been ahead at the break. They aren’t and there have been plenty of murmurs of discontent at Old Trafford. Big 45 minutes for Erik ten Hag
Hojlund goes close twice
Rasmus Hojlund should put Manchester United ahead. First a long kick forward from Onana is flicked to Hojlund and he is clean through but Foderingham, again, stands tall to save. He then almost gets on the end of a cross at the near post but Sheffield United block his effort and clear for a corner which comes to nothing.
Maguire equalizes and Old Trafford breathes a sigh of relief - Manchester United 1-1 Sheffield United (42nd minute)
Harry Maguire scores against his boyhood club to calm down the anarchy building at Old Trafford. It’s a lovely flicked header at the near post. Manchester United have created tons of chances in this first half and finally they score.
Bogle gives the Blades the lead - Manchester United 0-1 Sheffield United (37th minute)
What a shock we have here. After Onana gives the ball away and Sheffield United make the most of it as Bogle runs towards goals and scores to silence Old Trafford. Well, it’s very quiet aside from the few thousands Sheffield United fans in the away section. Manchester United are losing at home to rock bottom Sheffield United.
Sheffield United have had a few chances
Both Archer and Brereton Diaz have had chances for Sheffield United as the Blades are growing into this one.
Casemiro goes close with a header
United (Manchester!) have started really well and Casemiro heads off target.
Foderingham denies Dalot and Garnacho
Almost the perfect start for Man United but Dalot is denied from long range in the first minute. That looked like it was finding the top corner! Then Garnacho is found in the box but hits his shot straight at Foderingham. He has to score but Foderingham is playing really well.
Manchester United lineup
Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Casemiro, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Sheffield United lineup
Foderingham; Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Boyle, Hamer, Osborn, Arblaster, Brooks; Archer, Brereton
Manchester United focus, team news
OUT: Anthony Martial (groin), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf), Raphael Varane (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Marcus Rashford (ankle), Jonny Evans (muscular), Mason Mount (muscular), Willy Kambwala (other), Sofyan Amrabat (knock), Scott McTominay (groin)
Sheffield United focus, team news
OUT: John Egan (ankle), George Baldock (calf), Max Lowe (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Jack Robinson (ankle), Rhian Brewster (thigh)
