Bruno Fernandes produced a captain’s performance to save Manchester United’s blushes against rock-bottom Sheffield United, scoring twice and providing another in a 4-2 comeback win for Erik ten Hag’s misfiring side.
Three days on from making torturous work of their FA Cup semi-final triumph against Championship side Coventry, the Red Devils toiled against another side that will be playing in the second tier next term.
Under-fire Ten Hag’s side twice had to come from behind against Chris Wilder’s doomed Blades before Fernandes’ double inspired the end of the hosts’ four-match winless run in the Premier League to move them up to sixth.
The hosts had started brightly enough, having 83 per cent possession and 11 attempts before Jayden Bogle capitalised on an Andre Onana error and opened the scoring in front of a stunned Stretford End.
Harry Maguire quickly levelled against his former club, only for the Blades to go back ahead through Ben Brereton Diaz early in the second half.
Fernandes drew the hosts level from the spot as the Blades conceded a 90th goal of the season – the most ever in a 38-match Premier League season – and more were to follow.
United’s skipper fired home an 81st-minute rocket from 25 yards before setting up Rasmus Hojlund to add a another four minutes later.
Ineos director of sport Dave Brailsford watched the match next to newly appointed United technical director Jason Wilcox at Old Trafford, where the hosts were again without a string of players through injury.
They made two changes from shoot-out win against Coventry and the Blades made four alterations on a night when youngster Oliver Arblaster was handed the captaincy for the first time.
Wes Foderingham was among those brought in and produced an impressive display, kicked off by brilliantly tipping over a hopeful Diogo Dalot effort from distance.
Antony was proving a nuisance and Hojlund saw a low drive denied by the Blades goalkeeper, whose opposite number was soon embarrassed.
Onana’s poor first touch from makeshift centre-back Casemiro’s pass was followed by a rushed, wayward attempt to find to Dalot, which was intercepted by Bogle and finished impressively by the Blades man.
It was a 35th-minute shocker that led the raucous, self-deprecating away support to poke fun at the hosts and their under-fire manager.
But soon the Blades’ chants switched from winning away to drawing away as one of their own levelled, with their academy product Maguire meeting Alejandro Garnacho’s cross with a glancing header at the near post.
The hosts began the second period sharply, only for Ben Osborn’s cutback to be slammed home by Brereton Diaz to spark Blades delirium.
It was another gut punch but again the home side rallied.
A mixture of fine defending from Auston Trusty and Dalot’s dithering prevented the full-back from getting a shot away before the Blades defender was punished for putting his hands on Maguire in the box.
Referee Michael Salisbury had whistled for a spot-kick before the ball ended up in the net, with Fernandes having to step up to smash past Foderingham.
The embattled visitors continued to threaten, with Brereton Diaz’s drive ricocheting narrowly wide off Maguire before he saw a goal-bound attempt blocked.
But for all of United’s problems this season, they have frequently showed an ability to dig deep in uncomfortable moments.
Fernandes epitomises that resilience and struck a thumping 25-yard drive that flew into the top corner and raised the roof in the 81st minute.
The relief was as palpable as the joy, with Hojlund striking home from close range from Fernandes’ cross soon after.
With the result all but secured – even by United’s recent wobbly standards – Ten Hag handed a debut to 18-year-old Ethan Wheatley, who became the 250th academy graduate to make his first team debut for the club.
Plays the nice guy card but we can see through him, arrogant man, no time for him after the barney episode….. No need for it
W@anker!!!
Exactly played the I’m so genuinely sorry card after his petulant display after Match V Barney just so crowd wouldn’t be on his back & I might retire Sh*te, conniving piece of shit.
True
Did you have time for him after this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Had a chuckle at the spectators singin “stand up if you love the darts”. They’re at the world final…I’m pretty sure it’s a given that they love darts! And was one of the Ladbrokes tarts yer wan from Tallafornia?
Say what you like about him but what a player!
Don’t forget that begrudgery is the Irish national pastime ;-)
Very true god forbid i might win the lotto
If Taylor was Irish everyone would be saying it was passion or the heat of the moment or the fighting Irish get over yourselves
Agree, super darts player….
Heard he was lobbying for darts to be an olympic sport….
Some athlete!!!
great player but a rude wnaker … no need for it especially after winning …
This lad is the greatest athlete the world has ever seen. He’s in the gym 7 days a week working harder than everyone else and it showed tonight. Phenomenal physical specimen.
7 hours a day. 7 days a week. He may not be putting those hours in in the gym but it’s still incredible commitment and dedication…
Incredible demonstration of determination – He looked dead and buried at 2-0 and 4-2…
What an amazing match and hats of to phil what a champion and what an athelete to keep performing at the highest level at 52 …….ultimate sports man…….and MVG is some player ………
Ultimate sportsman? I’d hardly call his behaviour the other night with Barney sports manly. Arrogant sack of sh1t would be more fitting.
Gamma I guess rugby players trying to gouge out eyes, footballers diving, tennis players breaking their rackets and throwing their toys out of the pram to name a few are perfect sportsmen. Up there on stage under the lights and the heat there is nowhere to hide so he got a bit hot and bothered under the pressure of a semi final for which he apologised for. I don’t see what you and a lot of people are getting so worked up about you must all run perfect lives and never get annoyed with other people so fair play to you and all the other Taylor detractors
Tony rugby teams provide each other with a guard of honour after the game, tennis players shake hands after a match. Frustration is part of every game but the point I made is that his actions were not the actions of an “ultimate sportsman” while were on it, breaking a tennis racket earns a fine, diving in football earns a yellow card and eye gouging in rugby gets you sin binned. What was Taylor’s punishment?
Gamma in response Taylor’s punishment is everyone jumping on him for one human error, for which he said sorry for. Then if you see the footage he shakes hands then I pulled back while walking away that’s when he aired his annoyance then Barney gave him a sly little shove in the back as he was walking back towards the board. That’s when Taylor got really annoyed he has said sorry however Barney has not done so in public yet so IMO opinion Taylor has done nothing wrong to be punished for so get off your moral high horse and enjoy watching the best darts player you are ever likely to see
I met the bloke once in a hotel in london.One of my mates asked him for a foto. No bother!!…He chatted with us for about twenty mins and then was on his way. He is one sound bloke and He is also the greatest dart player ever.Good luck to him.
About 5 or 6 years ago he was doing autographs in Lifestyle Sports just off of O’Connell St. It was supposed to be a kind of thing where you buy a Taylor-endorsed dartboard and get an autograph. Anyway, I already had the dartboard at home but one of the people working there wouldn’t let me get an autograph. Phil told her it was alright and let me through. I thought he was a great fella, but his antics with Van Barneveld make me question that.
My comment about Taylors past has been deleted despite him being found guilty in court
Why, what was his past? Twitter me if u can
About him beating up females?
Just looked it up, that’s mad, never even heard that b4… The power phil Taylor eh, lol
I won’t post it as it was deleted when I mentioned earlier, check his wiki page and that will lead you to reports from BBC, Daily Mail etc…..
Or maybe he just had a fondle with them!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Not many people do know about it, conveniently glossed over by the sporting media
Grrrrrrr hate Taylor!
Such a boring game in general !
Why wud u read an article about it then u idiot?
He felt Barney pulled him about after taking his time to shake hands. Heat of the moment stuff! But like Cody and Cunningham at the end of the All Ireland.
Hate the man he rewrote the book on dirty tricks from bristow while keeping the crowd on his side. Would never cheer for the man but I tip my hat to his talents
He is the best dart player of his generation .. And still can turn it on at 52 …. Ya the barney thing was wrong, but everyone has slip ups. Tell me 1 world champion that’s not cocky and confident !!!!!
Silly game for drunk men.
I love darts, but this old sketch always reminds me of Taylor (not a nice man):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHnBppccI0o
Still the best darts player ever.
A fitting tribune to Sid Waddell naming the trophy after him. One of the most comical yet genuine commentators ever and one that really brought darts to the mainstream audience.
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in ,with a portion of chips….. you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them”
RIP Sid
Agreed. Sids commentary is what breathed new life in to a dying sport, I tuned in just for him. Now darts are more popular than ever while its snooker that’s on the way out.
Horrible arrogant man. Greats darts player, horrible human being.
Brilliant dart player and so talented. To become the best he did everything that was asked of him including diets gym work and practice, practice and then some more practice. I admire him as we will never see another champion like him. I don’t judge him on his personal life as I don’t know him but not too many sportsmen or women have managed to keep their position over such a long period. Congrats Phil.
Even though he is an arrogant man you have to admire him for his success.
no class
he only goes tere for the vending machine
Great fight by Phil. Hes a genius. but MVG will learn from this and will get better and better. I’ll say he will equal Phil’s records in 15 to 20 years. MVG=Machine
If it wasn’t for Taylor, darts would still be in the dark ages like the bbc. He made darts the sport it is and continues to dominate and because of that others are getting better and better like MVG and Lewis… Fair play phil, still the greatest
Great talent and is cocky but after 16 world champs wins I think your entitled to puff out your chest a little. He is no angel but neither is anyone
he is either a good actor or a good guy. every press conference I’ve seen him in I’ve warned to him. lady night’s victory was his 90th over all title (or something like that) I do agree darts players need a bit of fitness in their routene… but, Taylor is one of the worlds best and most decorated sports personalities ever!
jammy gig was fined 2grand for trying to sort a 3some in his caravan…. stay classy Phil!
His public persona is an act, don’t fall for it buddy
Not denying he is a super dart player
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1306433.stm
This is the ling to the report of the incident on the BBC news website . He’s not as squeaky clean as he would like us to believe. Personally I think he’s a bit too sweet to be wholesome. But he is some darts player and always great to watch.
I agree with Barry, MVG is one to watch for the future.
* link!