Under 21s: Southampton 2 United 1

United's youngsters have often found trips to Southampton difficult to negotiate in recent years and this one proved no different.  Fortunately, of course, the league had already been secured, otherwise the Reds might have found themselves needing a result in the final, tricky-looking game at Chelsea next week.  

United were much the better side in the first half but failed to make a breakthrough.  McTominay, Riley and Redmond all had good opportunities thwarted by Southampton keeper Gazzaniga. 

They were made to pay for this when Southampton took the lead just after half-time, Gallacher drilling a low shot past Johnstone.   Their second goal was gifted to them by United.  Johnstone attempted to punch away a free kick from the right but succeeded only in finding the head of McNair, from which the ball rebounded into his own net.

Fortunately, Gazzaniga was in equally generous mood at the other end, fumbling a cross that landed at the feet of United substitute Willock, who prodded home from close range.  

The Reds pushed for an equaliser and might have had one had the keeper not been in the mood to atone for his error.  He did brilliantly to get down low and get a stiff arm to a powerful McNair header to turn it aside.  When Redmond skied his volley in stoppage time it was the last chance in an entertaining second period that ended with United falling to a rare defeat at this level, albeit one that has come too late to deprive them of the title.

Marouane Fellaini - United Hero

There were some huge performances in the FA Cup semi-final win against Everton, and one from a player who, without which, we almost certainly wouldn't have won.  I speak not of the consistently magnificent De Gea or the phenomenon-in-the-making that is Anthony Martial, but of the too often unfairly maligned Marouane Fellaini.

In a way it was ironic that Fellaini produced his most important performance in a United shirt with Darren Gibson and Tom Cleverley in our opponents' line-up.  These two players were the big Belgian's predecessors as scapegoats among a section of United's support that has become particularly loathsome in recent years.  

I've never witnessed a more embarrassing moment at Old Trafford than when Gibson was booed when receiving his Premiership winner's medal - proof that this infantile tendency has not only taken root in the fallow post-Fergie period.  Cleverley then became a poster boy for the detractors who, during the brief reign of David Moyes, appeared to spend entire games poised to tweet some infantile, humourless nonsense following a single poor touch or stray pass.

It may be nostalgia, but I'm sure it was once never like this, that United fans at one time took a kind of special glee in celebrating players who wore our shirt that others had written off.  Diego Forlan, long before his famous brace against Liverpool saw him written into United legend, was always warmly appreciated by the United faithful, bemusing those in the media who only saw a forward who couldn't score goals.

It was the same with the young De Gea.  Although by that point social media had enabled the sit-at-home buffoons among the United 'support' to join in the bashing he was getting from those other buffoons in the established media, match-going Reds generally knew we had a world class keeper in the making and supported him through a difficult period adapting to the English game.

Fellaini, I understand, does not have the kind of skills that make him an automatic favourite among United fans.  Yet here is a player so committed to joining United he engineered his own release from Everton and drove down the M62 on deadline day in order to secure the move.  It says much for him that, having endured mockery and jeers from sections of the Old Trafford crowd ever since, he showed so much pride and commitment in a United shirt yesterday.  At one point late in the game he sprinted half the pitch in order to dispossess Lukaku.  Had he not, we might well have been the wrong ones on the end of a demoralising defeat yesterday.  And that's not even to mention the opening goal or the number of times his distinctive head rose in the box to deal with an Everton cross.

As it was, it was Fellaini's former club who finished the game with their heads in their hands, and he'd played a massive part in bringing it about.  If only his detractors who call themselves United fans could show that level of loyalty and commitment to the club. 

FA Cup Semi-Final: United 2 Everton 1

An entertaining FA Cup Semi-Final was decided dramatically in stoppage time when Anthony Martial scored the goal that sets up an FA Cup Final with Watford or Crystal Palace.

Earlier, what eventually turned into a highly competitive game had looked so easy.  Although United had to survive a couple of early scares when Lukaku broke through - thwarted first by a superb goal line clearance from Rooney and second by his own poor touch - they took the game to Everton in the first half and played with the kind of pace and creativity that's been all too absent for much of this season.  Rooney, excelling again in a deep role, was orchestrating play while Rashford and, in particular, Martial were running Everton's defenders ragged at times.

Everton might have felt they'd done enough to weather this early pressure when United took the lead.  Martial got to the line and cut back for Fellaini, whose finish was scruffy but effective.  The big Belgian also benefited from the Everton defence's inability to get tight on him in the area, another feature of a first half that the Reds dominated.

The only regret at half-time was that the Reds hadn't capitalised on that dominance to build a bigger lead.  That regret began to loom larger as a very different Everton emerged at half-time and a second half good enough to grace any FA Cup semi-final ensued.  

It was a harsh decision that sparked it off.  Fosu-Mensah was judged to have brought down Barkley when it was clear the young Dutchman had got the ball.  David De Gea, characteristically, simply saw that as his cue to get involved in the game: the keeper threw himself to his right to save Lukaku's spot kick for his umpteenth crucial save this season.

United were denied a more clear-cut penalty decision when Fellaini had his tap-in intercepted by Jagielka's arm.  Had the referee seen it, he would certainly have had to sent the defender off also.  The failure to give it looked like it might have serious consequences when substitute Deulofeu's cross into the box was deflected into his own goal by Smalling.

From there it could, in truth, have gone either way.  Martial's cross was inches away from finding Lingard's foot in the Everton area and De Gea once again saved superbly, managing also to steer the ball out of the path of the advancing Lukaku.  Fellaini then got back to produce the best tackle of the game and deny Everton what looked a likely winner.

Extra time looked a certainty when substitute Herrara's ball set Martial away through the middle and the Frenchman, who'd been his usual class act throughout the encounter, calmly stroked the ball past Joel to ensure that this hugely frustrating season will at least end with a trip back to Wembley and the FA Cup Final.

United 2 Crystal Palace 0

Perhaps it was simply that Palace had their forthcoming FA Cup semi-final in their minds, or perhaps United have belatedly rediscovered the knack of seeing off opposition like this in second gear.  Either way, this was a comfortable night's work for the Reds, who managed to carve out ten shots on target and, when the second goal had gone in, see the game out in a pleasingly unfussy manner.

United were gifted an early goal when Delaney turned the ball past his own keeper when apparently under no pressure.  It was the only goal of a first half in which United showed a level of comfort that's really been in evidence this season.  Only Speroni, making a rare appearance in the Palace goal this season, prevented the Reds from going into the break with the match already in the bag.  He denied Martial twice and kept out efforts from Rooney and Rashford to keep his side in contention despite United's dominance.

Rooney saw his effort from the edge of the area blocked early in the second half but the second goal wasn't long coming.  When it did, it was a goal of some quality from an unexpected source, Darmian crashing the ball in off the post from just outside the box.

The Reds didn't exactly down tools from there but, when Rashford was withdrawn to a deserved ovation, his liveliness around the box was clearly missed and, although United stroked the ball around Old Trafford with ease, few further chances were created and the emphasis was clearly on seeing the game out.

And, given the imminence of our own FA Cup semi-final, that was entirely understandable.  In the end, it was a composed performance from the Reds that keeps us on the shoulder of Arsenal and city in the race for those Champions League places.   Job done; now on to Wembley.

Under 21s: Spurs 2 United 3

United sealed the Under 21 championship for the fourth time in five years in dramatic fashion after a thrilling match at White Hart Lane.  Guillermo Varela's winner in stoppage time gave the Reds the win after they'd allowed a good Spurs side to come back from a two goal deficit.

At first, it seemed the Reds weren't going to waste any time getting the job done.  After five minutes, a superb touch on the edge of the area from Pereira set up Donald Love, who fired powerfully home.  Pereira then doubled the lead himself ten minutes later, finishing with a sublime volley from Riley's long ball into the area.  

Spurs had beaten Sunderland last week to give United the chance to win the league tonight and they showed the class that had brought them that win when they came back into the contest and reduced the Reds' lead, Miller finishing off some persistent passing play by finishing with a carefully placed shot from the edge of the area.  Only a fine save from Joel Pereira prevented Spurs drawing level minutes later.

United missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead early in the second half when McGee's clearance fell straight at the feet of Love but, his instinctive shot fell wide of the post.  Despite that, it was Spurs who were having the best of the possession at that stage, with United restricted to chances on the break.

As the Spurs players began to tire, however, the Reds began to carry more of a threat and Pereira was unlucky not to extend the lead ten minutes from time when a fine run ended with the young Brazilian hitting his shot against the post.  The miss appeared crucial when the home side's two substitutes linked up to level the scores, the lively Edwards getting behind the United defence and crossing for Pritchard to score from close range.

With the game on a knife-edge, Edwards and Sterling both had good chances to snatch a winner for Tottenham before United gave the game its incredible last minute twist.  Pereira took a clever free kick from the right, playing the ball back to McNair to shoot from the edge of the box.  His shot was saved by McGee but the ball rebounded back to Varela, who got so much power into his effort that the Spurs keeper had no chance this time.

It was a fitting way for the young Reds to secure another title.  All season they've shown the spirit of United the senior team have too often lacked and that winning goal, and the timing of it, had Manchester United written all over it.

United 1 Aston Villa 0

Three points in the bag, but this was a performance that had most of the worst hallmarks of United's season.  The Reds were pedestrian, cautious, sloppy and languid against the worst Villa side for many, many years, for whom defeat brought the confirmation of a relegation that's been inevitable for some months.

The Reds dominated the game but rarely did they come anywhere near the heights achieved in the victory at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday night.  In the first half, only the influence of the returning Wayne Rooney and the constant threat of Marcus Rashford raised United above the mediocre and they were predictably both involved in the goal that was enough to give United their win. 

Functioning impressively in a deep position, Rooney sprayed the ball out wide to Valencia on the right and his cross found Rashford in the middle, who steered the ball past Guzan for the vital goal.

If we thought that would lead to a more accomplished performance from United, we were wrong.  Rooney's impact on the game diminished with his tiredness and by the time he was replaced in the second half, the Reds had reverted to the all-too-familiar process of pointlessly rotating possession around the team, moves that more often than not ended in a misplaced pass.

When Gestede hit a post during a rare Villa attack late in the game, it saved United's blushes.  There was still embarrassment to come, however, with the sight of United players spinning out time at the corner flag.  Fine against a top side in Europe, but against easily the worst side in the Premiership it only served to emphasise what this United side has become this season.   A performance as weak as this will not be good enough, you sense, against Crystal Palace in midweek and certainly not in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend.

FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay: West Ham 1 United 2

Just when you thought the season was grinding to a disappointing close, United went to the Boleyn Ground and pulled off a memorably victory that keeps hopes alive of a triumphant end of the season in the FA Cup.

After weathering some early pressure from the home team, the Reds gradually gained control of the first half but frustratingly failed to capitalise on the chances created.   Both Fellaini and Lingard drew saves out of Randolph while Carrick was enjoying the freedom to dictate play from midfield in a manner that's been all too rare this season.

There will have been concerns among Reds fans that United's failure to find the net in that first half meant we'd blown our opportunity.  However, after half-time the Reds came out with even greater purpose.  It was, predictably, Marcus Rashford who broke the deadlock.  The young forward had a fine all-round game and his sixth goal for United was the best yet.  Finding himself on the edge of the penalty area, he curled a superb shot just inside the far post to give Randolph no chance.

There was a cavalier swagger about this United team that has been absent during so much of the season.  Following the goal they continued to press and their dominance brought further reward when Lingard's cross to the far post found Martial, who managed to prod the ball across the goal for Fellaini to score with his knee.

Until then, United's impressive performance was matched only by an uncharacteristically insipid effort from West Ham.  Bilic's team rarely get through ninety minutes without offering some kind of threat though and, with Moses coming off the bench to add further drive to their midfield, they began to find their way into the game.  Their pressure was met, predictably, by stubborn resistance from De Gea but the keeper could do nothing when, from the corner that resulted from his fine save from Antonio, Tomkins steered a brave header past him.

It set up a frantic last ten minutes or so.  De Gea was forced to make a couple of further saves to keep West Ham at bay but the Reds showed enormous character and resilience to see out the tie and set up a semi-final at Wembley against Everton.   2015-16 has been a pretty dismal season for United fans, but there remains the prospect it may well redeem itself gloriously in the final stages.

Under 21s: United 1 Middlesbrough 0

This narrow win was enough for United's Under 21s to take a giant stride towards retaining their title.  With Sunderland losing their final game of the campaign at Spurs on the same night, the Reds need to pick up only two points from their remaining three matches.

United dominated possession but found Middlesbrough stubborn opponents. Despite a strong side that included Wayne Rooney making his comeback from injury, the best the Reds could manage in the first half was a shot from James Weir that goalkeeper Fryer did well to to parry.

Weir, so often the man this season to make the difference in tight games, was forced off at half-time through injury.  Rooney followed him on the hour, making way for the highly promising Axel Tuanzebe, making his own comeback from injury after three months on the sidelines.

The reshuffle these changes necessitated seemed to make a difference as Pereira, himself coming on for the injured Joe Rothwell, found space on the right to deliver a cross that was controlled and smashed into the net by Paddy McNair.

Although Boro showed more adventure in the later stages, it was a deserved victory for the Reds who finish the campaign unbeaten at home.  They now face the final three away fixtures knowing that victory at Spurs next Monday will bring a third league title in four years while even a draw with leave the Reds top with a 6+ goal difference going into the final two games.

Spurs 3 United 0

What for three-quarters of this game was a tight encounter ended anything put as three goals in six second half minutes handed Tottenham a convincing victory and left the Reds once again following a short run of form with a huge step back.

United's coach had been stuck in the North London traffic, forcing kick-off to be put back by half an hour. The Reds didn't appeared hindered by the enforced short warm-up, however, and took the game to Spurs in the early stages.  There was a lack of clear-cut chances, however, and it was the home side who came closest to scoring when Lamela found space on the United right and might have done better when he headed wide of the post.

The second half continued to be a frantic affair, offering little space for the creative players to operate, although a superb mazy run into the box from Martial came closest to giving United the lead.  When offered a similar opportunity, Spurs didn't pass up on it.  Eriksson's clinical pass inside found Dele Alli, who poked the ball past De Gea to give the Londoners the lead.

It got worse for the Reds when Alderweireld rose above Rojo at a free kick to double the Spurs lead, then much worse when Rose's cross fed Lamela, who made up for his earlier miss by drilling his clinical shot past the United keeper. 

The three goals had been conceded following Fosu-Mensah's enforced departure through injury.  Coincidence?  Probably, but there's no question the youngster had been heavily involved in ensuring the gaps that now appeared in the United defence hadn't been there earlier on.   After his departure, his team simply fell apart.

Spurs might have added to their lead had it not been for a fine save from De Gea denying Alderweireld his second.  In the closing stages Dembele also came close to adding a fourth.  United were frankly woeful in these later stages, leaving Reds fans looking forward only to the final whistle and the end of this deeply disappointing Premiership season.

Under 21s: United 1 Chelsea 1

More than 9000 fans saw the young Reds come from behind to secure a hard-fought point against a good Chelsea side.   Although this will go down as two points dropped in the pursuit of the Under 21 Premier League title, United's youngsters showed impressive spirit in their second half fightback.

Although United started strongly, Chelsea took the lead through an excellent free kick from Palmer after McNair had fouled Quintero on the edge of the area and from there the visitors took control of the first half.  They spurned frequent chances to add to their lead and, had they done so, the young Reds may well have found themselves with a huge mountain to climb.

Part of the problem concerned the number of players operating out of their familiar positions.  Lacking a genuine striker Ashley Young, making his way back from injury, operated in the long forward role, while the makeshift central midfield of McNair and Love consisted of two players far more comfortable playing in defence.

However, the tide began to turn in the second half and, just after the hour mark, United's increasing pressure paid off.  Varela, playing in an advanced role on the right, was getting forward with more purpose and it was his ball into the box that allowed James Weir to get a shot in on goal that took a deflection as it squirm just inside the far post.

From there, the Reds looked the more likely side to win the game but the second goal never came and United finding themselves still needing eight points from their remaining four game to make sure of the title.  With a testing away game at Chelsea still to come, this draw leaves the two-way battle with Sunderland at the top of the league still too close to call. 

United 1 Everton 0

Time was when a close 1-0 win drawn a from a sketchy performance like this in April would have been hailed as a vital three points towards another league title.

Times have of course changed.  This kind of performance has, sadly, become typical fare at Old Trafford rather than a permissible lapse during squeaky bum time.  However, after a deeply unpromising opening period, the Reds upped their game in the second half and were just about good value for their win over a frankly uninspiring Everton outfit.

The first half was one of those forgettable affairs that have occurred so regularly this season that few Old Trafford regulars are even surprised any more.  United edged possession but carved out few chances, the best falling to Martial who sent his volley wide of the Everton goal.  Elsewhere, misplaced passes and a sadly familar tendency for Carrick and Schneiderlin to attempt to occupy the same space on the field led to a stilted and unconvincing effort from United.

The Reds picked up in the second half, however, and looked more settled when Martial gave them the lead seven minutes after half-time.  By now Rojo had been withdrawn after a dismal first half performance and his replacement, Fosu-Mensah was involved in the move down the right that led to his cross finding Martial for a tap-in at the far post.

From there it was a solid display from the Reds.  Smalling and Blind deal admirably with the threat of Lukaku and, while quality was in short supply elsewhere in the park, a similarly impressive spirit to that shown away at city before the international break prevailed to see the Reds to victory.