Despite a first half scare against newly promoted Ipswich Town, United bounce back to produce an emphatic 5-2 win, and put points on the board to get their 2026/2027 Premier League campaign up and running at the second time of asking.
Match Report
After an horrendous start to season which saw Michael Carrick's Manchester United comfortably beaten by one of the other newly promoted sides away at one Hull City on the opening weekend of the season. The second game this time at home already felt like a must win for the Red Devils. Obvious negativity has followed that game week one loss, and large swages of the fanbase have bemoaned the lack of transfer activity; despite new signing Carlos Baleba being presented to the home faithful ahead of the Sunday afternoon kick off. So this was a chance to silence a bit of that early season noise.
With Ipswich having got a win on their first game week, and sensing some of those nerves around Old Trafford the away side were very nearly Infront with a little less than 13 minutes on the clock, as a sharp counter coming from a United corner saw Julio Enciso turn on the after burners and sprint through clear on goal, forcing Lammens into an early stop with his outstretched left knee to deny the Paraguayan. An early warning sign. Enciso, the Ipswich new boy would continue to dominate throughout the half.
Diogo Dalot produced United best chance of those early first half exchanges, forcing Kjell Scherpen to use all of his 6'9 Inch frame to tip over a shot that was destined for the top corner. Both keepers where kept busy, with both teams attacks appearing much more equipped than their respective defences.
It wouldn't be long for the first goal to go in, and it was the visitors on the 29th Minute. Abdul Fatawu was able to get himself beyond Luke Shaw, bullying him for both pace and strength and whip in a delicious cross into the United box. The cross was calmly finished by Leif Davis, who got over the strike to keep it under the bar but high enough to evade the outstretched reach of Lammes. 1-0 to Ipswich, and thoughts from the home fans both at the stadium and those watching at home of "here we go again."
United did have their moments, and looked to respond before the break, and indeed they did. It took a slip from Nunez which was swiftly pounced upon by Matheus Cunha, who led the breakaway and was able to slot it through to Bruno Fernandes, who fired it in at the near post. 1-1, game on. United where now in the ascendancy, but the half time whistle would put a holt to the that newly found momentum. Or at least for now.
The second half saw United really click into gear, although Bryan Mbeumo will still be wondering how on earth he didn't score early in the second. As he managed to hit the cross bar from a barely a yard out; it looked harder to miss, but miss he did. Although was able to give a rye smile in response.
Although it would not be long before United did get themselves in front as a heavily deflected Harry Maguire shot nestled into the bottom corner off the unfortunate Jacob Greaves. An accidental handball in the build-up threatened the goal. However, because Maguires eventual shot was deemed to be going off target, meaning he wasn't the eventual goal scorer VAR would give the home side the goal. 2-1 United, but Ipswich had the right to feel aggrieved.
It would get even better for United, and worse for their opponents as only minutes later, Cunha burst through on goal and was brought down inside the area by none other than Greaves himself; an awful couple of minutes for the Ipswich defender. Despite his pre-season blips from the spot Fernandes stepped up and made no mistake in front of the Stretford End. 3-1, and surely all three points secured.
Fernandes would complete his hat-trick on the 68th minute, as he pounced on a rather ragged looking Mbeumo cross goal strike to coolly slot it home. Great first touch and composure. 4-1, game was now well and truly over.
Bryan Mbeumo would get his moment 10 minutes from the end as he latched onto a Fernandes ball and lifted it over the keeper. Although it bounced off the bar the back spin, partly due to the heavy rainy conditions now seen inside Old Trafford took it over the line to the gratitude of Greaves. Who attempted to clear the strike, but failed. Blasting the already over the line ball into the side netting. At least it didn't register him yet another own goal, 5-1.
There was still time for another from the away side, as the rain lashed down Lisandro Martínez was caught on the ball on the edge of his area, resulting in a squared pass which was rolled into the open net by Akpom. I might be being generous, but the conditions may have played a part, 5-2. That's how it would finish.
In the end, a comprehensive win for United. Which saw yet another talismanic display from their captain and newly crowned PFA player of the year. A much better attacking performance overall, which could have seen more goals scored on another day. However, the defensive frailties cannot be ignored, its needless to say that reinforcements in that area are required ahead of the Transfer Deadline on Tuesday night if Manchester United have ambitions of competing both domestically and within Europe this season.
