PL2: Leicester City 0 United 0

It's been a pretty drab season at Under 23 level, but I don't recall seeing a game quite as dull as this one.  Neither keeper was meaningfully tested throughout a game that saw both sides come away with a point that, given other results, probably suited both teams in their efforts to fight relegation.

United probably just about edged a fairly uneventful first half.  Both sides lacked a creative spark and, just as Indy Boonen began to look most likely to provide one for the Reds, his Under 23 debut came to a premature close when he was forced off with an injury before the half-hour mark.

Once Boonen had left the fray, an already uneventful encounter meandered to a predictable snore-draw.  Occasionally there were attempts from both sides to rouse the slumbering King Power Stadium crowd: Dewsbury-Hall saw a shot deflected wide for Leicester while Makela hit an effort just wide in the closing stages for United.   Otherwise, stalemate prevailed.

The draw lifts United four points clear of the relegation zone.  Even if the Reds fail to win either of their remaining games, Derby and Reading will now need to win both of theirs to send them down.  Hopefully that can all be resolved when United play Spurs at Old Trafford a week on Monday, and this dismal Premier League 2 campaign can finally be brought to a close.

PL2 Sunderland 1 United 3

United's Under 23s gained a vital win in the fight against relegation with their best performance of the season at Eppleton.  This win takes Nicky Butt's side out of the relegation places and into seventh place in the twelve-team league.

Anyone unfamiliar with the Reds' second string's disappointing form of late would have been scratching their heads at their lowly position in Premier League 2 as the youngsters tore into their opponents from the off, building up a 2-0 lead before half-time that better finishing might have seen them at least double.

As it was the Reds - playing in blue - took the lead when Mitchell converted the penalty awarded after Harrop had been tripped in the area by ex-United defender Donald Love.  This was followed quickly by a deflected shot from McTominay that doubled United's lead.

United eventually gained a deserved third with nineteen minutes of the second half remaining when Redmond (above) followed up on McTominay's saved effort to score from the rebound.

Although Sunderland grabbed a late consolation in stoppage time when a free kick into the box led to Honeyman tapping home, there was nothing the Wearsiders could do to claw back the Reds' convincing lead.  

The only blemish on a fine night for United was that the free kick was awarded following a foul by Poole that brought him a second yellow.  Poole was making his return from a suspension during which his presence was much-missed and Nicky Butt will be disappointed that he'll lose the Welshman again for what was an unnecessary challenge with the game already long won.

PL2 United 0 Reading 2

This capitulation against Reading leaves United in serious danger of relegation from Premier League 2.  Once again, the Reds were outplayed by rivals who were hard-working and well-organised but otherwise unspectacular, to extend a dismal run of home form that now leaves them dangerously close to the two relegation places.

In the season-long absence of a genuine forward, this time it was Callum Gribbin who led the attack.  Gribbin is a talented prospect but his failure to capitalise on two chances in the first half illustrated a familiar problem for United.  First, he neglected to shoot when presented with a sight of goal, allowing the Reading defence to get back into position and then, finding himself through with only the keeper to beat, he once again failed to get a shot away.

Aside from these chances, Reading very much had the upper hand and it was no surprise when they took the lead, Osho rising to head home convincingly.  But for a fine save from O'Hara, it might easily have been two before half-time, but Reading eventually added to their lead in the second half.  Once again a failure to deal with an aerial ball following a corner that allowed Smith to rise and head well beyond O'Hara's reach.

The nature of the goals conceded show that United's problem at this level isn't solely due to the lack of an established front man.  With Poole and Williams unavailable, a defence that kept the Reds safe in mid-table for much of the season now looks consistently vulnerable.  Axel Tuanzebe, while undoubtedly a fine prospect, now appears far less secure with midfielder Scott forced to take up defensive duties alongside him.

Yet the lack of that forward presence is undoubtedly a large part of the reason why United now stare the unthinkable possibility of relegation in the face.  Late in the game, Harrop floated a fine delivery into the box only for no team mate to gamble and attack the ball.   By now Gribbin was back in his more familiar midfield position and the move brought a greater balance to the team in the later stages but by then, of course, it was too late.

PL2 Derby County 5 United 3

A disappointing season for United's Under 23s continued with this loss at bottom side Derby County.  Although a minor fightback reduced the margin of defeat, the Reds remain in unfamiliar territory in the table.  Having been champions in three of the last four years, the Reds go into the run-in with relegation still an unthinkable possibility.

It was the Reds who took the lead when Gribbin's expertly placed free kick, awarded after Mitchell had been felled following a surge down the left, beat the keeper at his near post.  For a spell it looked most likely that United would increase their lead but Babos's superb strike from the edge of the area drew Derby level and, before half-time, Elsnick rose to meet Bennett's cross from the left and put the Rams ahead.

Although United had chances, Derby approached the second half like a team determined to add to their lead and the breakthrough came when Elsnick grabbed his second thanks to a wicked deflection off Tuanzebe that saw the ball loop over O'Hara to give the keeper no chance.   

It got worse moments later when Gordon pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area to drill the ball under O'Hara for Derby's fourth goal.  A fifth came when Elsnick capitalised on increasingly gaping holes in the United defence to lay on a simple ball for Jakobsen to score after the same player had blasted over only minutes earlier.  

The Reds made the scoreline look a little more respectable when Redmond latched onto a cross from Olosunde to strike the post before following up to score from the rebound.  With three minutes left Kehinde scored United's third after he was put through by Gribbin, whose increasing maturity on the ball was one of the few positives Nicky Butt can take out of this match.

Other than that, however, it was a pretty grim night for the Reds.  The result takes Derby off the foot of the table and leaves United only three points clear of the Premier League 2 relegation places with six games remaining.

PL2: Liverpool 0 United 1

Following the disappointment of failing to give a clearly inferior Liverpool side the hammering they deserved on Sunday, United's Under 23s delivered in the best possible way.  Deep into stoppage time, Matthew Willock rose in the area to get his head to a Goss free kick and the Reds put some much-needed distance between themselves and those in the relegation zone by stealing a win at Anfield in the most satisfying manner possible.

It's been a disappointing Premier League 2 season for United thus far and Liverpool, riding high in the table, will surely have been favourites to win this encounter.  Had they spent less time indulging the local pastime of righteous indignation every time a decision went against them, they may well have given themselves an opportunity to do so.  

There was certainly enough of that on display when, after a non-event of a first half, United were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute of a livelier second period.  In a manner of which their senior colleagues would surely have been proud, the home players surrounded the ref, presumably in an effort to remind him of the locally uncontested view that it is impossible for anyone wearing a Liverpool shirt to do anything wrong, after Gribbin had gone down in the area under a challenge from Lewis.  

In truth, the only questionable part of the decision was that Lewis escaped with a yellow.  Their histrionics turned out to be academic anyway when Goss's penalty was well saved by George.

And that appeared to be it.  With the clock running down and 0-0 looking ever more likely, Goss seized one final opportunity to make a difference and the quality of his free kick gave Willock the simplest of chances.  he duly obliged and the Under 23s grabbed a rare, but very pleasing, three away points.

PL2: Spurs 1 United 1

United will have been hoping for a win away to a Spurs side languishing in unfamiliar territory near the foot of the Premier League 2 table.  As it was, the Reds were forced to work hard to come away with a point in a second half in which better finishing might well have given the home side what would on balance have been a deserved victory.

Spurs showed a lot of endeavour early in the contest, but United managed to contain and it was the Reds who took the lead in the twentieth minute.  Picked out by a wonderful pass from Sean Goss (above) - making a welcome return after his long injury - Joe Riley cut into the area and produced a calm finish to score with United's first chance of the game.

The Londoners came into this game after a run of five successive defeats and it may have been hoped their heads would drop after going behind.  As it was, they were level just after the half hour mark.  Goddard's effort from the edge of the box was parried but the ball fell at the feet of Harrison, whose emphatic shot brought the equaliser.

Spurs' willingness to attack United in the second half belied their low league position and the home side went close to taking the lead when Harrison's shot struck the leg of Poole on its way to goal.  It was the best chance of many during a sustained spell of pressure from Tottenham.

Part of the problem for United was that Goss, who had bossed the midfield before the break, was inevitably tiring following his long period on the sidelines.  He was withdrawn with fifteen minutes remaining and, although United had a fresher look about them in the later stages, it was Spurs who went closest to grabbing a winner when Harrison failed to convert a Walker-Peters cross.

It's another disappointing result for an Under 23 side who are still to win away from home this season and who understandably continue to miss the presence of a genuine forward player within their ranks.  Once again, it was due to strong defending and sound organisation in the face of opposition pressure that the Reds were able to come away with a point.

Premier League 2: United 1 Arsenal 0

United's youngsters have faced some tough games this season against sides with older and more experienced players, but this was a young Arsenal team and the Reds just about edged a deserved victory thanks to an early goal from Ro-Shaun Williams.

It came after only six minutes, Williams stooping at the far post to score with a well-placed header.  Although Arsenal had the bulk of the possession in the first half, this largely consisted of fairly toothless probing of the comfortable United defence and it was the Reds who came closest to scoring the next goal, Olosunde finding himself through on goal in the closing minutes of the half, only for Arsenal keeper Keto to turn his shot wide.  

United took the game to Arsenal in the second half, pushing hard for a second goal but not producing an effort that threatened Keto until the keeper did superbly to keep out Harrop's shot from an angle in the 65th minute.  In what was now becoming a more open game, Hinds drew a save from Johnstone with his side's first shot on target and Poole did well to clear the danger deep in his own area following another dangerous attack from the Gunners.

Arguably United's two best players on the night, Riley and Harrop, linked well in an attack that saw the latter's effort saved but by that point United had seen off the best Arsenal had to offer and were able to see the game out for a well-earned three points.

PL2: Everton 2 United 0

United were, sadly, thoroughly outplayed at Southport as Everton strolled to a 2-0 victory.  

Once again, a United team without a recognised striker lacked penetration and the best of the first half action was in the Reds' area.  In the absence of that forward threat, United have relied on a solid defence this season but both Everton goals had an element of United pressing the self-destruct button about them.  

The home side took the lead in the first half when Poole's pass across his own goal allowing Calvert-Lewin to sneak in and score past the helpless Sam Johnstone.   It wasn't an isolated moment. United often looked stretched at the back as Everton sought to increase their advantage after the break.  It wasn't long before they did so, with Poole again at fault, this time on a corner as he failed to rise for an aerial challenge with Niasse, who comfortably scored with his head.

The introduction of substitutes Mitchell, Olosunde and Kehinde freshened United up and they had most of the possession in what remained of the match.  However, a well-organised Everton defence kept the Reds at bay and only Harrop's header late on, which was cleared off the line, came close to kick-starting what would admittedly have been an unlikely United comeback.

PL2: United 3 Derby 2

An entertaining game at Old Trafford saw United eventually run out winners by the odd goal in five thanks to a brace from Scott McTominay (left) either side of a Josh Harrop penalty.

Although Derby saw a lot of the ball early on, United looked in control and were deservedly ahead within twenty minutes.  Harrop's cross was met by McTominay, who rose brilliantly to head the ball into the roof of the net.  

As with the victory over Villareal last week, much of United's most dangerous play came down the left and a run and cross from Riley almost brought a second when McTominay's shot struck the post and the midfielder went close again moments later, also following a cross from the left.  

United rued these missed chances when Derby drew level.  With Poole and Tuanzebe again coping admirably with anything the away side produced in open play, a set-piece had always looked like Derby's best chance of a goal and so it proved, Vernon nodding the ball over the line from a corner.

It was the lively Josh Harrop who restored United's lead mid-way through the second half.  After a surging run into the area, he was clumsily brought down and stepped up to take the penalty himself, striking it firmly into the bottom corner.  Derby struck back, however, and it was once again Vernon on target, doing brilliantly to get between two United defenders to fire hoe a bullet header.   

United weren't about to settle for that, however, and they took the lead again late in the game.  Riley's cross found substitute Olosunde in the box, who was dispossessed, but the ball fell to McTominay, who decisively stabbed home his second of the night.  

Derby again showed spirit in their attempts to push for a third equaliser but, aside from an O'Hara save from a free kick in stoppage time, United rarely looked troubled in the closing minutes and hung on to secure all three points 

PL2: city 1 United 1

United's Under 23s were put under considerable pressure at the Etihad but managed to emerge with a creditable draw, secured thanks to an excellent save in the last seconds by Kevin O'Hara.

The Reds came close to going behind in the seventh minute when Poole's rare mistake at the back allowed Kongolo a run on goal, but the city youngster fired his shot high over the bar.  

City continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession, but failed to carve out another clear-cut chance in the first half and it was United who took the lead against the run of play.  Willock picked the ball up in midfield and held off a series of challenges from city defenders before drilling a fine shot low past O'Brien.

The home side pressed forward before half-time, but the Reds were solid at the back and O'Hara went into the interval without having to make a save. 

Sadly, his first action real in the second half was to pick the ball out of the net when city equalised just after the hour mark, substitute Diaz curling a superb shot beyond the reach of the United keeper.  

There was no question it was any more than city deserved and they looked determined to push for a winner.  Although another good run from Willock almost put in Harrop for United, the home side always carried the greater threat and United again had to defend resiliently to see the game out.  Indeed, city ought to have won the game deep in stoppage time when O'Hara did magnificently to spread himself and deny Diaz when he looked certain to score.

Although a draw at the Etihad can be considered a good result for the Reds, the performance again raised concerns about how United will cope this season with such a severe lack of forward options at this level.  Once again, however, defensively United coped admirably in the face of a stiff test from a lively city side.

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.

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.