Quality prevailed in the end as Man Utd ran out 4-1 winners, but we had a go and were every bit as good as the hosts for the opening 37 minutes.
Here’s our thoughts and marks out of 10 from the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford:
STARTING 11:
4-4-2..
Elliot – 5 – Could’ve done much better to get out to Smalling’s close range header.
Yedlin – 7 – Was out-jumped by Martial for their opener and was sometimes caught a little high up the pitch, but was a great out ball on the break in the first-half and got the assist with a clever cut-back for Dwight Gayle’s goal.
Lejeune – 6 – Read the game well for the most part and played out from the back nicely, but should’ve done much better for Lukaku’s goal.
Clark – 6 – Was in the right place at the right time for most of the game, however might consider himself lucky not to have conceded a penalty against Romelu Lukaku in the first-half.
Manquillo – 5 – A number of the goals came down his end, but not a shocker by any means. We were punished defensively for our far more offensive approach.
Ritchie – 5 – Very quiet. Tried to help Manquillo deal with the threat of Rashford and Valencia down their right, but struggled with their pace and power.
Shelvey – 7* – Was a lot more measured on the ball and stayed disciplined in his work off it in our strong first-half effort. Almost scored in the second half with a edge of the box shot De Gea wasn’t saving. One of our best players.
Hayden – 5 – Was quite sloppy and a saw an early mistimed tackle get him booked needlessly early on – a yellow that will see him suspended for Watford next week. Let Pogba get his cross in a little easily for their opener. Perhaps reluctant to make a tackle on a yellow?
Murphy – 6.5 – His decision making often let him down, but there were some positive signs to take form his display after we’ve seen him struggle in the past. Had a good long rage stop parried wide by De Gea.
Gayle – 6.5 – Took his goal very well and looked sharp up-top, buzzing about well alongside Joselu. Looked more like the Gayle of last season in the first-half which bodes well given our lack of goals so far this season.
Joselu – 5.5 – Led the line well in the first half, winning flicks ons against the Man Utd centre-halves and holding the ball up well to get us on the ball higher up the pitch. Faded out of the game in the second half as Man Utd grew into it mind.
