Chelsea return to winning ways as United woes continue

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MANCHESTER UNITED are now on a nine-game winless run in all competitions, with the board seemingly delaying the inevitable as Michael Carrick remains in charge.

Cole Palmer returned from suspension and attempted an audacious free-kick in the seventh minute from the halfway line as Senne Lammens was off his line, but the United goalkeeper gathered the ball.

Two minutes later, Andrey Santos bent a first-time left footed strike just outside of the box, but the ball curled away from goal.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes returned to the starting XI after being dropped by Carrick for the Bournemouth match, but the Portuguese midfielder missed a big chance.

United countered well and Bryan Mbeumo played the ball across to Fernandes, but he rifled over Mike Penders and over the bar.

The away side thought they had taken the lead in the 34th minute.

Fernandes’s in-swinging corner was headed towards goal by Harry Maguire, with Matheus Cunha nodding in from close range in front of goalkeeper Penders. United thought they had taken the lead, only for VAR to intervene and rule Cunha offside. 

Amad Diallo had two chances in the space of five minutes before the break, the first looked to be heading in bottom corner but the shot was blocked late by Wesley Fofana.

The second chance was even more clear-cut, as Diallo latched on to a through ball from deep to get in behind the Chelsea defence. His effort beat Penders but sailed just over the bar, leaving United disappointed to not be ahead at the break.

Five minutes into the second half, the hosts took the lead.

England international Morgan Rogers dribbled through the middle of the pitch pretty much unchallenged, then dinked the ball over Lammens and into the net.

Lisandro Martinez, who recently called out Manchester United’s board, made another bold decision but this time on the pitch.

Martinez recklessly elbowed Wesley Fofana in the box during a Chelsea corner and play continued until VAR officials sent the referee to the screen.

Already on a yellow card, the referee gave Martinez his second yellow card and sent him off.

Palmer stepped up to take the resulting penalty and converted, with Lammens getting a hand to the effort but unable to keep it out as Chelsea doubled their lead.

“It was very important to get back to winning ways, obviously, after the last defeat,” said Palmer.

“I just think we were more intense. The chances they had were from us losing the ball, so we tried to play a bit smarter, a bit sharper and not losing the ball as easily, and I think it helped.”

Despite the result, Mbeumo believes a victory is not far away for the Red Devils.

“A lot of disappointment,” said Mbeumo. “I thought we played a solid game, a good first half especially.

“And everything was good, the mentality, the work-rate. I think [a win is] going to come.”