Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick powered Manchester United from behind to a 5-2 victory over Ipswich, giving Michael Carrick’s side a much-needed first Premier League win of the season.
United recover after early setback
- United arrived under pressure after a dismal 2-0 loss to Hull eight days earlier, and their troubles continued when another promoted team took control. Leif Davis put Ipswich ahead to leave the hosts in serious difficulty.
- Senne Lammens had already been forced into a one-on-one save from Julio Enciso, who had escaped after an Ipswich corner, before the visitors broke the deadlock in the 29th minute.
- Abdul Fatawu accelerated beyond Luke Shaw on the flank, and Davis met his delivery with a superb finish high into the net.
- Davis then passed up an opportunity to score again, sending a weak effort straight at Lammens after finding space.
- United were handed a route back into the contest when Marcelino Nunez lost his footing and surrendered possession to Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian supplied Fernandes, who fired into the net with his less-favoured left foot before the interval.
Marcus Rashford made his first Manchester United start in almost two years, while Kobbie Mainoo also returned as Carrick changed four players from the team that began the campaign with such a poor performance. The pair’s involvement brought greater energy, although United again depended heavily on Fernandes for decisive work in the attacking third.
Defensive concerns nevertheless remained, with Ipswich repeatedly finding openings against Carrick’s team.
Fernandes takes control
- United moved in front 11 minutes after half-time in controversial circumstances. Harry Maguire’s arm was struck before he took a shot, which would have been disallowed if it had gone straight into the goal.
- Because Maguire’s attempt was travelling wide and changed direction off Jacob Greaves before entering the net, the goal was permitted. It was not judged to be a handball that directly produced a goal.
- Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil described the incident, along with the equaliser, as two extraordinarily unfortunate goals. He felt his side had deserved better at 2-1 down but admitted they failed to respond and were punished by a strong opponent.
- Greaves soon made matters worse by bringing down Cunha as the United forward advanced towards goal.
- Fernandes, who had been voted last season’s player of the year by his fellow professionals during the week, sent the resulting penalty calmly past the goalkeeper.
The Portugal international had collected a series of personal honours last season after registering a Premier League-record 21 assists, despite scoring only nine goals. He is already one-third of the way to that previous scoring total this term.
- Fernandes completed his treble when he reacted quickest to a deflection off a Bryan Mbeumo shot and finished from close range.
- He then turned provider, lifting a pass over the Ipswich defence for Mbeumo to chase. The forward rounded off the move by floating the ball over the tall visiting goalkeeper, Kjell Scherpen.
“This cannot erase last week because you cannot turn it into six points,” Fernandes said. “However, our second-half performance was very good. Scoring goals is the best feeling in football.”
Ipswich claim late consolation
United’s attacking display was undermined by another lapse at the other end in stoppage time. Lisandro Martinez was dispossessed by Enciso, who set up Chuba Akpom to roll the ball into an unguarded goal and give Ipswich a consolation.
