Match ends, Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes led from the front to ensure another chaotic performance eventually ended in victory against relegation-threatened Sheffield United at Old Trafford.
With the visitors taking the lead twice, Erik ten Hag's side were staring at a humiliating loss to a side who have won just three times this season.
But Fernandes levelled from the penalty spot before driving Manchester United in front from 25 yards nine minutes from time.
The Portuguese created a first goal since February for striker Rasmus Hojlund four minutes later to move his side up to sixth spot and earn praise from his manager.
"He showed his leadership," said Ten Hag.
"He tried to encourage the team and he is also in good form. We put him in the right position and when he is there, he makes the right decisions.
"He can create a lot, score, assist and make key actions. We are very happy with his performance and his attitude."
Fernandes has now scored seven goals and collected two assists in Manchester United's past five games.
In total, there have been 27 goals in that period. Manchester United have conceded and scored at least two in all of those games.
In entertainment terms, it is sensational. However, there is zero sense of structure and it can only be wondered what new technical director Jason Wilcox made of it as he watched from the Old Trafford directors' box for the first time since his appointment was confirmed last week.
Ten Hag had railed against the media the day before the game, labelling critical coverage of his side's FA Cup semi-final victory on penalties over Coventry "embarrassing" and "a disgrace" - but his team failed to follow up by convincing on the pitch.
Without a win since February, Sheffield United led twice, through Jayden Bogle in the first-half and Ben Brereton Diaz in the second.
Harry Maguire's deft header pulled the home side level on the first occasion, before Fernandes took control.
Fernandes the saviour after Onana error
Ten Hag has faced problems of injury and form among his squad in recent weeks. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, during the turbulence, had been a reliable figure.
The Cameroon goalkeeper seemed to have put his poor early-season form behind him. His recent performances had deserved credit, given he has been standing behind one of the Premier League's leakiest-ever defences in terms of shots allowed to the opposition. A defence that cannot push high has not allowed him the exhibit his full passing range, but he had generally done well.
Against Sheffield United, though, Onana had a moment to forget. In passing the ball towards Diogo Dalot from inside his own six-yard area, the goalkeeper allowed Jayden Bogle to charge on to it. The 23-year-old's forceful burst took him to within shooting range and he expertly drove his effort into the far corner.
On the touchline, Ten Hag looked a lonely figure.
The Sheffield United fans had some fun at the Dutchman's expense, as they reminded him they rarely win away from home. To be completely accurate, they have rarely won anywhere this season. The last of their previous three triumphs came at Luton in February.
It is this kind of damage Manchester United cannot stop inflicting on themselves - and it makes winning matches so much harder than necessary.
Even after Maguire had turned home Alejandro Garnacho's cross to bring them level before the break, they still fell asleep in their own penalty area to gift Sheffield United the lead for a second time.
Fernandes, with two goals and an assist, stepped in to save them. His second, a brilliant 25-yard drive, was the highlight - but the industry that created Hojlund's goal was worthy of praise as well.
The overall display is not a recipe for sustained success, although after the past few weeks, Ten Hag is probably just grateful to get the win.
A positive night for Blades but still a defeat
In a season of almost unrelenting gloom at Bramall Lane, this represents one of the undoubted high points.
Back in September, the Blades led at Tottenham heading into injury time, but lost. In December, they drew at Aston Villa.
While they almost certainly won't be back at Old Trafford in the Premier League next season, their supporters will have the memory of a spirited display, tinged with regret that their team could not hold their lead for more than a combined total of 16 minutes and eventually succumbed to Fernandes' brilliance.
Not that is should come as any surprise. They have now conceded 92 goals, overtaking Derby's previous record of 89 in a 38-game top flight season. The Premier League record of 100 - set by Swindon in a 42-game season in 1993-94, might yet be passed. They have now conceded 26 goals in their past eight games - and they do not have the class that would allow them to somehow overcome the weakness.
Chris Wilder's side will be relegated if they lose at Newcastle on Saturday. A draw, and they would effectively still be down because of their vastly inferior goal difference. But whatever the result, the drop is inevitable anyway.
There were positives, chiefly a series of first-half saves from Wes Foderingham and a mature performance from young midfielder Oliver Arblaster, remarkably Sheffield United's seventh captain of the season.
But their return to the Championship will soon be official. And they don't really deserve any better.
Player of the match
HamerGustavo Hamer
Manchester United
Avg
- Squad number84Player nameWheatleyAverage rating
6.59
- Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating
6.37
- Squad number39Player nameMcTominayAverage rating
6.32
- Squad number37Player nameMainooAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number17Player nameGarnachoAverage rating
5.85
- Squad number11Player nameHøjlundAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number16Player nameDialloAverage rating
5.72
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
5.38
- Squad number4Player nameS AmrabatAverage rating
5.31
- Squad number14Player nameEriksenAverage rating
4.93
- Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number18Player nameCasemiroAverage rating
4.67
- Squad number24Player nameOnanaAverage rating
4.37
- Squad number21Player nameAntonyAverage rating
3.69
Sheffield United
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameHamerAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number18Player nameFoderinghamAverage rating
7.01
- Squad number20Player nameBogleAverage rating
6.89
- Squad number24Player nameArblasterAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number11Player nameBreretonAverage rating
6.86
- Squad number10Player nameArcherAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number35Player nameBrooksAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number23Player nameOsbornAverage rating
6.58
- Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzicAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number30Player nameHolgateAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number5Player nameTrustyAverage rating
6.42
- Squad number21Player nameVinicius SouzaAverage rating
6.27
- Squad number28Player nameMcAteeAverage rating
6.11
- Squad number32Player nameOsulaAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number16Player nameNorwoodAverage rating
5.31
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Onana
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 18Casemiro
- 5Maguire
- 20Dalot
- 37MainooSubstituted forS Amrabatat 90+1'minutes
- 14EriksenSubstituted forMcTominayat 64'minutes
- 21AntonySubstituted forDialloat 55'minutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- 17Garnacho
- 11HøjlundSubstituted forWheatleyat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Bayindir
- 4S Amrabat
- 16Diallo
- 39McTominay
- 62Forson
- 70Amass
- 75Ogunneye
- 78Jackson
- 84Wheatley
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 18Foderingham
- 30HolgateBooked at 37mins
- 15Ahmedhodzic
- 5Trusty
- 20BogleSubstituted forNorwoodat 78'minutes
- 8Hamer
- 24Arblaster
- 35BrooksSubstituted forde Souza Costaat 45'minutes
- 23Osborn
- 10ArcherSubstituted forMcAteeat 62'minutesSubstituted forOsulaat 87'minutes
- 11Brereton
Substitutes
- 13Grbic
- 16Norwood
- 21de Souza Costa
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 28McAtee
- 29Curtis
- 32Osula
- 44Hampson
- Referee:
- Michael Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 73,549
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home25
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home13
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 4, Sheffield United 2.
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Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United).
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Foul by Ethan Wheatley (Manchester United).
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Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
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Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
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Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ethan Wheatley (Manchester United).
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Auston Trusty (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Sofyan Amrabat replaces Kobbie Mainoo.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Ethan Wheatley replaces Rasmus Højlund.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Casemiro.
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Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Norwood.
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Attempt saved. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer with a cross.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Harry Maguire.
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Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Casemiro (Manchester United).
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Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Perhaps the BBC would care to remove Sutton from his highly-paid role, for which insightfulness does not seem to be a requirement.
I will clear it up for those people...
They are still rubbish!
Pleased to see Ethan Wheatley on the pitch.
One to look out for. He loves scoring goals.
If he ever made these number of disparaging comments when Sir Alex was around he would be going home with very sore ears and a tail between his legs so tight it would be strangling his nether regions.
I cannot remember a time in history that a journalist showed such abject bias as this man
I'm a Wigan RL fan and even I can see it.
For a start it is like children’s hour, the “chat” is abysmal
You think SU were battering MU according to the match reporter
The stats show that this was one of the most one sided games at 72% MU possession etc
Chris Sutton can’t wait for TenHag to get sacked
Sorry Sutton, we bought Cole instead of you and he’s 10x the player 😂
Liverpool has never recovered from that FA cup defeat
was much harder a game than it should have been, too many silly mistakes.