Man Utd 3-0 Leicester

by James Nalton

HAVING begun the game under the cosh, Manchester United recovered to record a resounding win against Leicester City thanks to some ruthless attacking play.

The win creates a bigger gap between Erik ten Hag’s side in third and Newcastle behind them in fourth after Eddie Howe’s team lost to Liverpool on Saturday. 

Marcus Rashford continued his good form, scoring twice, once in each half, before substitute Jadon Sancho added a third.

Bruno Fernandes was involved in two of these goals, with Ten Hag again using the Portuguese midfielder out wide on the right.

In the opening period of the game, Leicester created plenty of good chances and United were on the ropes. Only saves from David de Gea, first from Harvey Barnes and then most impressively from Kelechi Iheanacho, prevented the home side from going behind by one, maybe two goals.

Iheanacho had another good chance but failed to connect properly with his shot and it was easy for Victor Lindelof to block.

Tete was also dangerous for the visitors down the right, but they were unable to make anything of these good chances.

All Manchester United and Rashford needed was one chance. Fernandes played a through-ball with the outside of his right boot and Rashford timed his run perfectly before finishing convincingly past Danny Ward. 

In real time it looked like he might be offside — but he was played on by Harry Souttar, as spotted by linesman Darren Cann, who kept his flag down and awarded the goal, confirmed by VAR.

When Rashford had the ball in the net for a second time, having been played through by Fred, the flag did go up from Ian Hussin on the opposite side, but VAR again confirmed the United forward had timed his run to perfection.

Leicester were no longer in this match and had been made to pay for their lack of clinical finishing in the first half. A Fernandes cross from the right was turned in by Sancho, and the game was all but over. 

When Sancho played in Weghost late on and it looked like it might be four, but the big striker was thwarted by Ward.

The home team saw the game out and now find themselves just three points behind neighbours Manchester City and five behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.