United View: Reds finally back to winning ways

After 54 long days, Manchester United have finally won a game of association football. 

Tuesday’s comeback win over Roma was the first time the Reds have tasted victory since defeating Azerbaijani minnows Sabah on September 10, but more importantly, it may go a long way to saving their manager’s job. 

Michael Carrick’s role has been hanging in the balance over recent weeks, and despite Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea, he was seemingly given the final two matches before the international break to save his skin. 

The under-fire boss would certainly have been fearing the worst at the break, with his side producing another uninspiring, yet all too familiar first half display, but whatever he said at half time clearly had a profound effect. 

United found themselves trailing by two at the interval, with Matias Soule afforded the freedom of Old Trafford to ghost down the right wing and sweep home the opener.  

And the hosts clearly didn’t learn their lesson, with the forward picking up the ball in an identical position minutes later before forcing a last-ditch block from Ayden Heaven. 

Unfortunately for the defender, he used his arm in the process, allowing the in-form Donyell Malen to arrow in from the spot for a deserved second. 

But the Reds were handed a lifeline just after the restart, earning a spot kick of their own after Matheus Cunha was bundled over inside the box. 

When the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes saw his effort saved, you wondered if it was going to be one of those nights, but after a retake was ordered for encroachment, there was no chance of the Portuguese passing up another opportunity. 

The change in atmosphere after the goal was palpable, with Bryan Mbeumo only ramping this up after crashing an effort against the post moments later. 

With just eight minutes to play, it seemed the Reds were meandering towards yet another defeat, without putting up much of a fight in the process. 

Enter stage left: Matheus Cunha. 

The Brazilian was there to pounce on Leo Balerdi’s poor clearance to tap home the simplest of equalisers, before netting a far from simple winner. 

After great work from substitute Shea Lacey, the forward powered in off the post from what seemed like an impossible angle, before wild celebrations ensued. 

In a moment of joy paired with immense relief, Cunha dived into the Old Trafford crowd before receiving a customary yellow card, which turned red shortly after following a late challenge on Balerdi. 

Despite playing the final five minutes with ten men, United managed to see out the win to the relief of all inside Old Trafford, not least their manager, who lives to fight another day.  

Though Cunha will undoubtedly get the headlines, one man who was crucial to the turnaround was United’s teen star Shea Lacey. 

The young Scouser has had limited opportunities so far this season, but was immense after coming on, showing courage and personality in equal measure. 

He looked dangerous every time he received the ball - always looking to pass forward and take on his man at every opportunity, and showed superb vision to slip in his teammate for the winner. 

The winger has only played 22 minutes of league football this season, and this has to change going forward. 

Though it seems unlikely, I would love to see him rewarded with a start this weekend, as the Reds look to enter the international break on a high with a win over Aston Villa. 

Villa have not won at Old Trafford since 2021, and Michael Carrick will have to hope this trend continues, if he is to have any chance of keeping his job for the trip to Liverpool on November 22.