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MANCHESTER UNITED MADE IT BACK TO BACK WINS THIS WEEK FOLLOWING ON FROM LAST WEEKS SLOW START. THE RED DEVILS ALSO KEPT BACK TO BACK CLEANSHEETS WITH VICTORIES OVER MANAGERLESS BLACKBURN ROVERS AND CARDIFF CITY RESPECTIVELY. BOTH GAMES HAD BEEN SEEN AS ONES THE REDS SHOULD GET A RESULT AND THEY DELIVERED.
First, the reds travelled to Ewood Park in what turned out to be an odd game. Rovers still without a manager since Tony Ayre moved to Juventus opted to shut up shop and hope to keep their positive start going. United had a big emphasis on a counter plan but Rovers seemed to block any gaps for most of the game. The first breakthrough however, Lisandro Martinez drove forward before being hacked down in the box. Karim Adeyemi opened his account from the spot to score the first goal of the season. United struggled to get going in the remaining minutes of the half and had to wait until after hearing a strong team talk before striking again through Adeyemi, again. Ricardo Calafiori's hooked clearance wasn't dealt with by the Rovers defence, the German ran through and slotted home after rounding Andre Onana. There after you though United would be more confident but only mustered 2 further attempts, but both lead to goals. Raheem Sterling bundled through the Rovers defence and stabbed his first goal with half an hour remaining, Sterling turned provider for a late 4th, he played in Jadon Slory to open his account on his first appearance of the season.
Steve Outten didn't know how he felt post match, confirming one of the oddest games he's seen. "I'm very pleased we're off the mark for sure. But last week we got nothing, against Leeds we created a whole host of chances and didn't take one, today we we seemed timid and scared at times. We didn't take enough risks but managed to score with every shot we had. That sounds all well and good but a team who had no intentions of playing managed to create the same number of efforts. I'm happy on one hand but frustrated and confused on the other with how everything panned out. I don't think I've been in a game like this. We need to improve and be more positive but now we've got goals, that will settle us down."
On Friday United hosted Cardiff City in what turned out to be a very one sided game. United dominating the stats and played their most positive game of the season, Cardiff played a very open and expansive game which suited the home side who played the ball around the team with ease at times. Ricardo Calafiori openned the scoring after a controversial VAR decision decided not to award a penalty after Luis Diaz appeared to be pulled down, the Italian broke his position linking with his team mates, before advancing forward looking for options. The Italian however struck from range and beat 'keeper Allsop with a curling effort. Yaser Aprilla made it two with a fine solo effort. Another penalty was turned down in very similar circumstances to the first, Luis Diaz was apoplectic on this occasion and was lucky not to be booked for dissent. The Colombian did have the last laugh and finally saw some luck when he netted the third, he stood up his opposite number and unleashed a thunderous drive where Allsop had no chance.
United further probed and pushed but had to settle for 3 on the day although the manager clearly wanted more. "This is more like it and I know some people expect us to win a game before we start, but today we stuck to our plan, played to our strengths and got some of what we deserved. I felt we should've had more goals being truthful but on the day we take what we got. Defensively we looked very sturdy and we're delighted to have kept another cleansheet. I won't grumble too much, but we've had a more positive week compared to last, so now we have to take the positives and kick on and get as many points as possible in the next games we have as we're now on catch up."
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First, the reds travelled to Ewood Park in what turned out to be an odd game. Rovers still without a manager since Tony Ayre moved to Juventus opted to shut up shop and hope to keep their positive start going. United had a big emphasis on a counter plan but Rovers seemed to block any gaps for most of the game. The first breakthrough however, Lisandro Martinez drove forward before being hacked down in the box. Karim Adeyemi opened his account from the spot to score the first goal of the season. United struggled to get going in the remaining minutes of the half and had to wait until after hearing a strong team talk before striking again through Adeyemi, again. Ricardo Calafiori's hooked clearance wasn't dealt with by the Rovers defence, the German ran through and slotted home after rounding Andre Onana. There after you though United would be more confident but only mustered 2 further attempts, but both lead to goals. Raheem Sterling bundled through the Rovers defence and stabbed his first goal with half an hour remaining, Sterling turned provider for a late 4th, he played in Jadon Slory to open his account on his first appearance of the season.
Steve Outten didn't know how he felt post match, confirming one of the oddest games he's seen. "I'm very pleased we're off the mark for sure. But last week we got nothing, against Leeds we created a whole host of chances and didn't take one, today we we seemed timid and scared at times. We didn't take enough risks but managed to score with every shot we had. That sounds all well and good but a team who had no intentions of playing managed to create the same number of efforts. I'm happy on one hand but frustrated and confused on the other with how everything panned out. I don't think I've been in a game like this. We need to improve and be more positive but now we've got goals, that will settle us down."
On Friday United hosted Cardiff City in what turned out to be a very one sided game. United dominating the stats and played their most positive game of the season, Cardiff played a very open and expansive game which suited the home side who played the ball around the team with ease at times. Ricardo Calafiori openned the scoring after a controversial VAR decision decided not to award a penalty after Luis Diaz appeared to be pulled down, the Italian broke his position linking with his team mates, before advancing forward looking for options. The Italian however struck from range and beat 'keeper Allsop with a curling effort. Yaser Aprilla made it two with a fine solo effort. Another penalty was turned down in very similar circumstances to the first, Luis Diaz was apoplectic on this occasion and was lucky not to be booked for dissent. The Colombian did have the last laugh and finally saw some luck when he netted the third, he stood up his opposite number and unleashed a thunderous drive where Allsop had no chance.
United further probed and pushed but had to settle for 3 on the day although the manager clearly wanted more. "This is more like it and I know some people expect us to win a game before we start, but today we stuck to our plan, played to our strengths and got some of what we deserved. I felt we should've had more goals being truthful but on the day we take what we got. Defensively we looked very sturdy and we're delighted to have kept another cleansheet. I won't grumble too much, but we've had a more positive week compared to last, so now we have to take the positives and kick on and get as many points as possible in the next games we have as we're now on catch up."
703 WORDS