Pressure eased slightly on Man United boss

Manchester United 2 - 1 Chelsea

United capitalised on Robert Sanchez's fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

Author | Olivia T

Stadium | Old Trafford

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

A closer analysis of what happened

It was Sanchez's dismissal that set the course of the game, though. The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him to tap the ball into an empty net.

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Enzo Maresca's response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United's second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

Making Old Trafford feel like home again

Manchester United have now won three of their last four Premier League games at Old Trafford, the only setback coming against Arsenal on the opening day.

Remarkably, in two of those victories the opposing goalkeeper has been sent off before half-time with the match still goalless. As with Aston Villa on the final day of last season, United took full advantage, though this time the three points carried far greater significance.

The win lifted Ruben Amorim’s side into the top half of the table, just two points off the top four, and offered a surge of belief to a club that had been running more on hope than expectation despite recent bullish statements.

Bruno Fernandes made clear how much the result mattered. After seeing a late effort brilliantly saved by Chelsea’s substitute keeper Filip Jorgensen, he urged the Stretford End to raise their voices, then watched nervously from the bench after being replaced by Kobbie Mainoo in stoppage time.

The contest was shaped by the red cards, particularly Casemiro’s needless second booking for dragging back Andrey Santos before the break, and by the sodden conditions that left the ball splashing across the surface at the start of the second half. Yet this was less about tactical nuance than about producing when it mattered.

Amorim had stressed in his programme notes that talk was no longer enough. On this occasion, his players responded. The challenge now is to build on it with a first run of consecutive league wins under their new head coach when they travel to Brentford.