Manchester United escaped with a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town.
The phrasing of the opening sentence shows just what a tricky night Manchester United had. The Red Devils conceded first at Old Trafford, once again, and in the pouring rain, you worried it would be another one of those games.
United did recover to go 2-1 up, and there was optimism we could pull away. Then Patrick Dorgu was given a straight red card that means he faces a suspension. Ipswich equalised before half-time.
Harry Maguire scored early in the second half, and 10-man United held on to claim all three points, a first Premier League victory at Old Trafford since the start of December, winning 3-2.
David May questions Andre Onana
Manchester United’s night began with a tap-in for Jaden Philogene, after taking advantage of confusion in the defence.
Patrick Dorgu attempted a pass-back to Andre Onana, unaware the goalkeeper had rushed towards him.
While it almost ended in a Dorgu own goal, all eyes were on Andre Onana for causing the mix-up. The Cameroonian goalkeeper was even criticised in the MUTV studio.
Former star David May made clear he felt that Onana was responsible for the error.
He said: “If I was the fullback, I’d be saying, ‘where are you going? Stay on your line.
“It’s easy to criticise people, but I just think, you know what? just stay on your line, and you can deal with it.
“Put it out for a throw-in or you go back to the keeper. The keeper comes out, makes his mind up, absolute calamity.”
May was not impressed with Onana for Ipswich’s second goal, a low ball in from outside the box that the goalkeeper did not dive for.
“I still think he can save it,” the former centre-back commented.
Andre Onana has seen form nosedive
Andre Onana was not one of Manchester United’s many problems early in the season. And in the first game under Ruben Amorim, he showed his quality.
During the 1-1 draw at Portman Road, he made a stunning double save from Liam Delap, which saw a BBC analyst hail Onana as ‘world class’.
Two Premier League games later, Onana made an awful error at home in the loss to Nottingham Forest, and it has been downhill since.
Whether spilling shots, or making errors of judgement like against Ipswich, it’s been downhill.
But this was also United’s first Premier League home win since the victory over Everton, one game before Onana’s error vs Forest.
And so we live in hope that this victory has reset the cycle, and Onana will pick up his form. It’s a lot to ask, admittedly.
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