Bruno Fernandes stole the show as Manchester United romped home to their first Premier League points of the season.
In the end, Michael Carrick’s side saw off Ipswich Town at a canter as they ran out comfortable 5-2 winners. But the first half-hour or so presented them with real problems with the visitors a genuine threat after going 1-0 up at Old Trafford. That will be something for Carrick and his coaching staff to ponder over in the coming days, but ultimately they got the job done here and avoided the ignominy of losing successive games to newly-promoted teams after their 2-0 reverse to Hull City on the opening weekend of the campaign.
Talisman Fernandes scored a hat-trick with a Jacob Greaves own goal and Bryan Mbeumo completing the rout amid torrential rain in Manchester (nothing new there).
It wasn’t all plain sailing, mind. United got off to a woeful start and when Leif Davis gave Gary O’Neil’s side the lead just before the half-hour mark it was deserved. Davis scored a fine half-volley inside the area, although Ipswich had came close before then on a few occasions most notably a fabulous, driving run by Julio Enciso as Ipswich countered quickly after dealing with a United corner.
It was a slice of fortune that then paved the way for United to restore parity, just before half-time. Marcelino Nunez slipped and that allowed a United counter from a corner, ending with Matheus Cunha teeing up Fernandes for his first of the afternoon with a fine finish.
The turnaround was complete not long after the restart when United went 2-1 up albeit in slightly controversial circumstances. Harry Maguire tried his luck from distance and the shot took a nick off Jacob Greaves on its way into the net. In the build-up the ball had hit Maguire’s arm but owing to it not being credited as his goal, it was allowed to stand.
The video assistant referee Jarred Gillett told on-field official Craig Pawson: “It’s an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal.”
Had the game been a bit more evenly-contested then that flashpoint might have garnered more debate. In the end, it proved the point at which United really went through the gears – with Fernandes tormentor-in-chief.
Greaves was involved again, for United’s third, when he felled Cunha in the box for a penalty – which Fernandes tucked away. The Portuguese then made sure of taking home the match ball, finishing coolly for 4-1 from a few yards out after two attempts by teammates were blocked by last-ditch Ipswich defending.
As the downpours got even heavier, so too did the scoreline. Spare a thought for Greaves who was powerless to prevent an excellent Mbeumo lob as he just beat Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to the ball outside his area.
The scoreline may not offer too many crumbs of comfort for Ipswich fans but goals from the visitors at least book-ended this contest. Chuba Akpom tapped in to an empty net late on after good pressing from Enciso to add a bit more respectability to the scoreline.
Their manager O’Neil reflected afterwards, saying: “We have three points from two tough games. It’s a good start for us. It is the Premier League, the lads understand there will be highs and lows. We don’t want there to be too many lows but the lads are fine in there. They understand.”
United chief Carrick waxed lyrical about Fernandes post-match, saying: “He showed his quality today. Bruno did what he’s good at. He’s had a big week winning awards. Three goals and a fantastic performance.
“There were a lot of positives with and without the ball but it’s the whole mentality dealing with it and trusting each other. Last week didn’t go for us and we accept that. Today was a lot better. We’re not getting carried away. We were down last week but everything wasn’t wrong. We can still get better, we haven’t cracked it. We’ll get ready for the next.”
