Manchester United's Victor Lindelof scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, November 11, 2023
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Manchester United 1–0 Luton Town
by James Nalton
at Old Trafford
ON THE face of it, Manchester United’s 1-0 win at home to Luton Town wasn’t much to write home about.
A victory by a single Victor Lindelof goal at Old Trafford against a team that had never so much as managed a draw there. A victory that was neither convincing nor enthralling.
But it was a victory nevertheless.
United will take any positives they can get at this moment in time, and there are some hidden around the place.
Three points gained keep them within touching distance of the top four.
Plenty of chances were created, even if not taken, and there was an encouraging performance off the bench from Mason Mount who replaced the ineffective and eventually injured Christian Eriksen before half-time.
“We had to fight until the end, maybe not the prettiest, but I’m happy that we created many chances,” said Ten Hag.
“What is good is we already have 13 different goalscorers in our team.
“It expresses the way we want to play football, everyone is attacking, everyone is defending.”
The last time Luton Town defeated this opposition away from home, in 1897, United were still called Newton Heath.
The green and yellow colours of Newton Heath remain on display at Old Trafford, mostly as part of a protest against the club’s ownership by the Glazer family.
There were relatively small anti-Glazer protests outside the stadium before the game, but none of that filtered into the ground.
United should have led at half-time. Rasmus Hojlund had one of the best chances from a Marcus Rashford cross.
The Dane, who has been scoring freely in the Champions League but is yet to find the net in the Premier League, saw the shot that came off his thigh saved well by Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
Meanwhile, summer signing Mount worked quickly and effectively in defence, was lively on the ball and played a part in the move that led to the goal with a pass out to Rashford, whose cross deflected to Lindelof who was still forward from a corner.
“We are still close to the top four despite all the setbacks we have dealt with,” added Ten Hag.
“Other teams will get setbacks and drop points too. Now we’ve won four from the last five in the Premier League.
“Considering all the trouble we’ve had, we are in a very good position.”
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