Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes rescued his side by scoring two goals in a 4-2 home win over Premier League bottom club Sheffield United on Wednesday as more trouble looms for embattled manager Eric ten Hag.
Twice United fell behind with Jaden Bogle and Ben Brereton Diaz on target for the visitors but Fernandes helped avoid another damaging result.
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He equalized from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after a foul on Harry Maguire, the scorer of United’s first equaliser.
Fernandes then put his side ahead with a powerful left-footed shot, before Rasmus Hjolund finally subbed his struggling opponents.
“In the end we came back. We put ourselves in a situation where it is difficult to win the game. But it also shows a bit of character,” the Portuguese midfielder said.
“We’re scoring a lot of goals. It’s just about the intensity we have to have as a team.”
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It was another very creditable performance from Ten Hague’s side, although the win moved United up to sixth and kept them in the hunt for a European qualifying spot.
“There are a lot of positives today,” Ten Haag said. “The resilience to fight back after losing twice. But there were downsides too. We gave in, it can’t happen, it’s unacceptable, we have to learn from this.”
Time is almost up for Sheffield United, who have just 16 points from 34 games and could be relegated at the weekend.
United’s FA Cup semi-final victory on penalties was described as embarrassing in some quarters, having squandered a 3–0 lead against second-tier Coventry City and only escaped defeat by a controversially disallowed goal in extra time Was.
Ten Hag came out fighting this week, calling the criticism insulting, but the Dutchman appeared to be staring at the abyss as his team again created trouble of their own making.
They could and should have been ahead as chances went to waste and Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham made several brilliant saves, one from Diogo Dalot in the opening minute and another from teenager Koby Manu.
But United keeper Andre Onana gifted the visitors the lead in the 35th minute with a vicious pass out, which Bogle latched onto and raced on to score.
United were level before half-time when Alejandro Garnacho, one of the players to shine in a poor season, hit a low cross which Maguire headed in with his head.
There were only five minutes left in the second half when Ben Osborne broke through United’s defense with great ease to head Brereton Diaz’s pass into the net.
United looked stunned but were given a lease of life when Maguire was brought down in the box and Fernandes stepped up to send his kick into the corner.
But United were given a lease of life when Maguire was brought down in the box and Fernandes stepped up to send his kick into the corner. Fernandes then showed his class with a superb finish and United could finally breathe a sigh of relief as Hjolund, who had scored Sunday’s winning penalty, headed home Fernandes’ pass.
A grateful ten Hag said of his captain, “He is really leading the team. I am very pleased with his performance.”
