The slight rejuvenation, if not renaissance under Louis Van Gaal was evident in the match against Chelsea as United played like a team possessed and were extremely unlucky not to win as they were denied by the post and Courtois Jedi-like reflexes.
Advertisement
Finland punches Canada’s ticket at World Juniors
His second of the game would be the final tally of the game as Finland would take a 6-5 lead and hang on for the victory. Then, the Canadians lost 5-2 to Sweden before their quarter-final demise at the hands of the Swiss.
That was the date Man United last won in the league before a 2-1 win over Swansea, sealed by a moment of brilliance by Wayne Rooney.
Death of Kim dims hopes on rival links
His title was the head of the United Front Department and took care of North Korean matters regarding South Korea . Analysts said his departure could prompt a deterioration in the relations of North Korea with its neighbour.
Jamie Carragher does not believe Wayne Rooney can still be playing at the very top level in five years’ time.
Stokes’ double-ton puts England on top
It was a magical moment two generations in the making, with Bairstow’s late father David playing four Tests between 1979 and 1981. In the first session Stokes and Bairstow clubbed 196 runs from 25 overs and after the break piled on a further 116 in 13.5 overs.
A run of games without victory had increased pressure on Van Gaal, with rumblings he could well be sacked in the near future.
“I think the first half was a better half than the second”, he said.
“Today it was very important that we scored two goals”.
“I think we played a very risky system against Swansea because they had a shape with four midfielders in a diamond”.
Something of a siege mentality developed at Old Trafford during their slump.
United manager Louis van Gaal will be equally delighted with the performance of young Anthony Martial.
And the playing staff were also angered by their own performances on the pitch, Van Gaal revealed. “When you talk about who you would like to bring in, we can all sit here and bang off all these names but that doesn’t mean Manchester United will get them”. Never, and I have been in this profession for 25 years.
It will be 42 years in April since Law’s infamous victor for Manchester City at Old Trafford ushered his old club towards relegation, just six years after he lifted the European Cup with United.
Martial had a lot of pressure on his shoulders when he signed for United for £36million in September, but the 20-year-old Frenchman has already proven to be a big hit with supporters thanks to his pace, composure and willingness to take risks.
The hosts did not register a shot on target until the 33rd minute and only two more weak efforts followed before the break.
The home fans’ relief was palpable on the final whistle as Manchester United secured their first win since beating Watford away on 21 November. There was still only a smattering of boos at halftime and the crowd finally came alive when Martial came in off his left-wing position and met a cross from Ashley Young with a downward header into the net. We’ve dropped far too many points for our liking. I can imagine that he cannot always play in this world…
Young helped provided an attacking threat but with only one out-and-out striker in Rooney, United still found genuine chances hard to come by before half-time.
It was his first goal in two months but his 188th goal in the Premier League to move him up to second in the all-time goalscoring list.
Advertisement
Saturday’s game was the first time Anthony Martial had been on the same scoresheet as Rooney in the league. “I hope so”, Van Gaal said. “Now I have a good hope this is a starting point for more”. “We shall do our utmost best, fight to the end and he has done that”.
