PL2 United U23s 1 Chelsea 1

United's Under 23s produced their best football of the season so far with a spirited second half display to wrest what had earlier looked an unlikely point from this contest against a very good Chelsea team.

Chelsea were the only team to take points from the Reds' second string on their own patch last season and this game followed a similar pattern to the one at Old Trafford in the spring.  The visitors had easily the best of the first half and United were once again reliant on the dependable central defensive pairing of Tuanzebe and Poole to keep them at bay for long periods.

They finally broke through just before half-time and.  Johnstone dealt with a cross into the box and appeared to be impeded by Dasilva as he attempted to deal with the loose ball.  It fell to Scott who had the easy task of tapping home.  United's players looked to the ref for a decision but presumably he viewed the collision as accidental and the goal was allowed to stand.  In any case, there was no question Chelsea deserved their lead.

After half-time, United began to exert some control over the game and, although it was late when the equaliser came, the Reds' enterprising play fully warranted it.  Poole found himself out on the right and delivered an excellent ball into the box towards Weir, who was beaten to the ball by Colley but the Chelsea defender succeeded only in pushing the ball into the roof of his own net.

The result leaves United with only four points from three games, but there were certainly far more positives to take from this game than was the case in last week's dismal capitulation at Southampton.  A trip to city awaits on the Friday after the international break.

Hull City 0 United 1

It was almost as if United's last four turbulent years were crammed into one match.  For more than ninety minutes the horrifying presence of a 0-0 draw hung over this match, reminding us all too vividly of the Van Gaal period while the threatening breaks the home side occasionally put together carried a distinct whiff of the hapless essence of Moyes.  

Thankfully the Mourinho-esque defensive organisation ensured that none of the breaks came to anything while the new boss's reputation for well-timed substitutions was certainly borne out when he brought on Rashford and Mkhitaryan to crank up the pressure that ultimately bring the winner that, well into stoppage time, was pure Fergie.   

Hull certainly did enough in the first half to suggest that the team's good start under Mike Phelan is no fluke.  They were well-organised in defence and carried a real threat going forward.  Snodgrass placed a free kick just wide and was denied at the far post by a fine defensive header from Shaw, while Hernandez also looked a potential goal threat and Huddlestone constantly impressed in midfield

Although Ibrahimovic showed quality every time he touched the ball, he was well marshalled by the excellent Curtis Davies at the back and the closest he came to registering a goal was with an impudent back heel, while Mata's glancing header straight at the keeper was United's only other first half effort of note. With Pogba having a quiet game in midfield and Fellaini's presence somewhat neutralised by an early yellow card, the Reds were struggling to exercise control over the game.

They remedied this as the game went on and, by the middle of the second half, were largely camped in enemy territory, though with little sense of a breakthrough until those crucial two changes came.  As the rain thrashed down, Mkhitaryan picked up the ball from deep and surged through the Hull midfield.  Ultimately the run only brought a free kick but notice of the cavalry charge to come had been given.

Then Rashford came on and within minutes was producing one of his trademark runs into the box, only for Jakupovic to deflect the ball wide of his far post.  Before that, Huddlestone had almost scored via a deflection off Bailly and Myler would thrash a shot over the bar as the game moved into its final stages.

But other than those moments it was all United.  Hull continued to defensive gamely, however, getting bodies in the way of everything the Reds could throw at them.  Then, just as the game appeared to be drifting to a goalless draw, Rooney managed to lose his marker wide on the left and drilled a cross across goal.  Inevitably, it was Rashford who was there to steer the ball home, set loose mad celebrations in the away end and add yet another remarkable chapter to his young United career.

Fergie, you suspect, would have been nodding approvingly.  For perhaps the first time in more than three years.

PL2: Southampton 2 United 0

United have often struggled in reserve level games at Southampton in recent years and, sadly, this proved to be the case again, with the home side securing victory with two goals in six second half minutes. Overall, it has to be said that the Reds' opponents were full value for their win.

Although Weir missed the game's first real chance when he hit his shot over the bar, Southampton grew into the game as the first half progressed.  Henderson was forced to make a fine save to deny Hesketh just before the half hour mark with United looking tidy at the back and largely restricting the Saints to speculative efforts from outside the box.

The best chance of the half fell to United just before half-time when Southampton keeper Lewis fumbled a corner and the ball fell invitingly at the feet of Weir, who somehow managed to steer his close range shot wide of the target.

United were made to pay for that miss when the home side quickly took control in the second half.  Tuanzebe did well to get in the way of a shot from Olomola and turn it wide but it proved only a temporary reprieve.  First Sims' shot benefited from a heavy deflection off Riley on its way into the net and then central defender Stephens rose in the area to head home from a corner to establish a two goal lead.

Indeed, it might have got worse soon after when Olomola, with only Henderson to beat, sliced his shot over the bar.  From there United threw bodies forward and, although Redmond saw an effort cleared off the line, they laboured to create a further clear-cut opening against a well-organised Southampton defence.  

It's early days but defeat here, following last week's less than convincing performance against Leicester, raises questions about United's ability to challenge for this inaugural Premier League 2 title. The relative youthfulness of the Reds' current squad, along with the lack of a recognised forward, are issues that Warren Joyce will surely be pondering prior to Sunday's game against Chelsea.

PL2: United U23s 1 Leicester U23s 0

Let's be honest: this opening match of the new Premier League 2 competition was one that United should really have lost.  Leicester had easily the best of the possession and the Reds were largely restricted to attempts to score on the break.  Ultimately, however, this tactic proved fruitful as Demi Mitchell secured the three points three minutes from time.

With three former United players in their side - De Laet, Lawrence and James - Leicester were by far the more experienced side and their dominance was evident from the first minute. 

That they didn't manage a breakthrough was due largely to the excellence of United's defence.  Axel Tuanzebe was once again imperious at the back and had an able partner in Regan Poole, who managed to get his body in the way of two threatening first half efforts from the away side to keep the scores level.  

When called upon, keeper Sam Johnstone also played his part in keeping the Foxes at bay, saving well from Muskwe in the early stages before making vital interventions to thwart Kairo Mitchell and Kaputska late in the game.

By then, United were beginning to carry more of a threat on the break, and Demi Mitchell's pace following his arrival off the bench always looked a potent weapon.  Twice he'd almost broken away only for a poor first touch to let him down.  There was nothing wrong with it in the 87th minute, however, when he found himself set free by a long Johnstone clearance and, seeing Leicester keeper Iversen off his line, scored with the most audacious of lobs.

Leicester will understandably be disappointed to come away without at least a point from a game they dominated for long periods.  United showed much of the defiant spirit that saw them to the Under-21 title last season, although it's unlikely the performance levels reached in this game will be enough to bring the inaugural Premier League 2 trophy to Old Trafford.

Bournemouth 1 United 3

The Vitality Stadium was the scene of one of United's most dismal performances in a season of dismal performances last year.  It was therefore very satisfying to see United see Bournemouth off so convincingly at the beginning of this Premier League season.  Although this was far from a perfect performance, it contained levels of energy and desire to win that were so woefully absent last season and enough moments of quality to make Reds fans optimistic about the season ahead.

Defences were on top for much of the first half, with the Reds appeared hindered by an all too familiar lack of pace in the final third.  Although it was good to see Mata featuring in Mourinho's plans,replacing the injured Lingard, his inclusion certainly looked to be one of admittedly several factors contributing to a lack of penetration in United's attack.

It was therefore something of a pleasant surprise that it was Mata's persistence that brought a breakthrough for United five minutes before half-time.  Francis' careless back pass put the Spaniard in and, although his shot failed to beat Boruc, the ball rebounded off the Bournemouth defender, allowing Mata to tap in from close range.

Rooney almost capitalised after a deft flick from Ibrahimovic early in the second half, but Boruc did well to block his shot with his legs.  Rooney then had what looked a good shout for a penalty waved away before being on hand to double the Reds' lead just before the hour mark, his head putting the finishing touch to Martial's mishit shot.

Minutes later it was 3-0.  Ibrahimovic had drawn a fine save from Boruc from a free kick, but moments later he gave the keeper no chance when he drilled his long-range shot just inside his post.  It didn't take long for Bournemouth to pull one back though and Smith's fierce shot into the top corner was arguably the goal of the game.  

From there, despite occasional threats from the home side and one superb save from De Gea in stoppage time, it was a largely straightforward matter for United to see the game out and secure an opening day victory.  This, of course, is exactly the kind of away game United should be winning and such a victory would, not so long ago, been regarded as routine.  We've learned through bitter recent experience not to take such things for granted anymore, however, and the feel-good factor here registered pretty high up the scale.

Who is Matthew Olosunde?

The undoubted highlight of a disappointing night for United's youngsters in the Lancashire Cup last night was the goal from Matthew Olosunde.

It was the American's first game for the Under 21/reserve team and anyone watching will surely have been struck by his powerful running and mature positional play as well as the powerful volley that gave United the lead in a game they were eventually to lose on penalties.

The goal hinted at the versatility of a player playing at right back.  That's also generally where he plays for the USA under-20s team.  He played for New York Red Bulls and Duke University in the States before arriving at United in January, also playing occasionally in central defence and as a defensive midfielder.

The comparisons players attract at this age are rarely helpful and the parallels that were drawn between this exciting Philadelphia-born and New Jersey-raised prospect and Dani Alves are no exception.  Nor should his physical stature fool us into forgetting that he's still only 18 and inevitably still has a lot of developing to do.

Nonetheless, last night's display suggests it won't be long before we can place Ololsunde's name alongside Ro-Shaun Williams, Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe in an unusually talented group of young defenders at United at the moment.  

LSC Semi-Final: United 1 Oldham 1 (Oldham won 4-3 on pens)

Despite taking the lead through promising American youngster Matthew Olosunde, United were pegged back by an experienced Oldham side and went out of the Lancashire Senior Cup on penalties for the second year running.

Oldham looked the stronger side for much of the first half of this semi-final, held over from last season, and were denied what looked a clear penalty when Winchester was brought down by El Fitouri in the area.  Even United fans will surely be at a loss as to why the referee didn't give it and Oldham's protests continued well after the incident.

Aside from that stroke of good fortune, United's defence - ably marshalled, as usual, by the excellent Axel Tuanzabe - coped well with the visitors' attacking threat, though it was very much against the run of play that United took the lead. Regan Poole did well to recover the ball after an over-hit corner and his cross into the area was met by Olosunde, who crashed the ball home to score on his debut for the reserves.

McTominay, playing in the long striker role, almost doubled the Reds' lead just after the break when a forceful run into the box ended with his shot being saved by Kettings in the Oldham goal.  Instead, moments later it was Oldham who got an equaliser, Cassidy's header at the back post looping over Henderson into the far corner.

McTominay went close again, only to draw an even better save from the Oldham keeper, who did brilliantly to turn his shot around the post.  In a game that was becoming far more open in the second period, Henderson did well at the other end to save with an outstretched right leg from Woodland.

McTominay, again, and Willock both went close as United pressed for winner in the later stages but, with the score level at 1-1 at ninety minutes, Lancashire Senior Cup rules deemed that the game would go straight to a penalty shoot-out.  

When Kettings saved McTominay's first penalty for the Reds, things looked break, but Cassidy then skied his spot kick over the bar to leave scores level.  They continued that way until Mitchell missed his kick for United and Oldham duly wrapped things up to set up a final against Everton next week.