Manchester United’s stand-in captain Bruno Fernandes has made it back-to-back wins for Erik ten Hag’s crew by scoring the one purpose in a 1-0 victory over Southampton within the Premier League.
Sporting the captain’s armband rather than the still-benched Harry Maguire, Fernandes steered in a cross from Diogo Dalot within the fifty fifth minute in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture as United adopted up Monday’s win over Liverpool with one other morale-boosting efficiency.
Having began the season with two straight losses – together with a 4-0 drubbing at Brentford – United have now gained consecutive league matches for the primary time since February.
It was additionally the crew’s first clear sheet of the season, thanks partially to David de Gea’s reflex save to maintain out a header from Joe Aribo within the 66th.
It is a end result that can give a bit extra respiration area to 10 Hag, the Dutch supervisor who confronted a torrent of criticism and scepticism after the crew’s dismal begin to the marketing campaign.
Ten Hag’s choices to go away Maguire and star ahead Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench have been vindicated as soon as once more, with centre-back pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane trying strong in defence.
United did battle to create high quality probabilities within the first half, though ten Hag was shaking his head in disbelief that his crew did not go forward within the twentieth minute once they had three photographs on purpose from shut vary within the span of some seconds.
Anthony Elanga’s effort from a decent angle was saved by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu earlier than Fernandes and Christian Eriksen each had their follow-up photographs blocked by diving defenders.
Southampton had their finest first-half likelihood on the half-hour when a nook fell to Armel Bella-Kotchap on the again put up, however he lifted it over the crossbar.
United began stronger within the second half and obtained the purpose after a well-worked transfer down the suitable flank.
Dalot lifted a cross into the world and Fernandes was available to sidefoot it contained in the far put up.
Ronaldo and United’s new signing Casemiro – the Portugal star’s former teammate at Actual Madrid – each got here on within the second half.
Substitute Sekou Mara had two probabilities to equalise for Southampton in injury-time, however his spectacular overhead was blocked by Dalot and he sidefooted one other effort broad of the put up a minute later.
