Anthony Martial needed a goal and he delivered against Chelsea at a crucial stage of the match.
The Frenchman headed in a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka to score just before half-time to put United 1-0 up.
It set the way ahead for United to clinch a 2-0 victory at the home of one of our competitors for a Champions League place.
Martial does not score many headed goals. This was his second header of the season, with the previous coming in the 4-1 win over Newcastle back on Boxing Day.
Last night’s goal was his fourth headed goal for United, and the type he needs to score more of if he is to establish himself as the club’s first choice striker.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the club website he was pleased with Martial, and believes the player is taking advice on board.
He said: “When you have a centre-forward number nine leaping over a centre-back in the Premier League like this you know you’ve done something right with him.
“Anthony is working hard to improve his goalscoring, that was a great goal.”
He added: “Anthony has been told x amount of times to get in that box.”
Martial is now up to 13 goals for the season in all competitions and will quickly want to start adding to his tally with Odion Ighalo now battling for a place.
Perhaps the threat will bring the best out of him, and he did really well with his goal.
Prior to his header, it had looked like more of the same. His movement was too static and he gave the ball away cheaply.
The header was his only shot on target from three attempts, with one shot skewed wide when it would have been better to pass to Dan James who was open in the centre.
Goals breathe confidence and Martial will benefit from getting back on the scoresheet, and his manager’s words.
It will be fascinating to see whether he starts against Club Brugge on Thursday, or whether that’s a game Solskjaer saved Mason Greenwood for.
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