Lisandro Martinez was shown a second-half red card against Leeds (Image: Getty)
Ten-man Manchester United slumped to a 2-1 defeat to rivals Leeds United as they squandered a chance to take a firm grip on third place in the Premier League. United were booed off at half-time after Noah Okafor’s brace, with the Red Devils fortunate that they were not further behind to their Yorkshire opponents. Michael Carrick, missing the injured Kobbie Mainoo and suspended Harry Maguire, strangely opted against half-time substitutes.
And United’s hopes of a victory were crushed when Lisandro Martinez was sent off in the 56th minute. After a VAR check, Martinez was found guilty of pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair and was shown a straight red card. Casemiro gave the hosts hope of salvaging a draw with a 69th-minute header but Leeds secured a historic win, only their second at Old Trafford since 1981, to clamber further clear of the relegation zone. Carrick’s team ultimately paid the price for a dreadful first half as they slipped up, missing a chance to move 10 points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea.
Express Sport rates and slates the United players after a disappointing loss…
Man Utd player ratings vs Leeds
Senne Lammens – 6
Good early save to deny Calvert-Lewin but couldn’t do anything about the first goal. Powerless for the second goal too. Bailed out by Martinez after a poor pass to Yoro almost allowed Ao Tanaka to score and then saved well from Pascal Struijk before half-time. Stopped Calvert-Lewin making it 3-1 when the striker should have scored an unchallenged header.
Had a really poor game summed up by a wild 25-yard shot that went both well over and well wide. Amazing he lasted 69 minutes to be honest.
Bullied in the air by Calvert-Lewin for the Okafor goal and the Swiss forward’s second deflected in off him. Played into trouble by Lammens before Tanaka was denied by Martinez. Struggled to deal with Calvert-Lewin’s physicality.
Back after a calf injury and didn’t look 100 per cent fit. Played a hospital pass to Casemiro before Leeds’ second goal. Sensational defending though to stop Tanaka making it 3-0 but then sent off for a stupid hair pull on Calvert-Lewin. Absolutely brainless.
Pushed forward for the Okafor goal and left space in behind him. Allowed Jayden Bogle to have too much joy in the first half. Wasn’t entirely bad, with one nice moment where he won a tackle and played a brilliant long ball. Booked for a cynical foul when he made the right choice to stop a dangerous counter-attack. Took too long to cross when he had the ball in a dangerous area late on.
Manuel Ugarte was poor for Manchester United (Image: Getty)
Bruno Fernandes got his 17th assist for Casemiro’s goal (Image: Getty)
Caught on the ball in a dangerous position moments before Leeds scored their second. Struggled to offer the protection the United backline needed in the first half but played some nice ambitious passes and crosses throughout. A brilliant header to pull his team back into it and denied a headed equaliser on the line by Calvert-Lewin.
Too slow to Bogle’s run and failed to stop the cross that Leeds scored from. He just isn’t good enough on the ball or off it. Only one win in his 10 starts this season. Moved to centre-back after the subs where he was slightly better.
Booked for diving. Drilled a long-range shot over the bar. Squandered a good attack with a poor pass to Bruno Fernandes but forced a couple of good saves from Karl Darlow after the hour.
Where would United be without him? Wasn’t fouled by Ethan Ampadu 40 seconds before the second goal despite his complaints. Was booked for dissent and then, as he does, put in a brilliant cross for Casemiro’s header. His 17th Premier League assist of the season.
Forced a good save from the goalkeeper after a nice run. Released Sesko with a great pass at 0-0 before the Slovenian’s tame shot. United’s liveliest attacking threat in the first 45 but faded before being replaced.
Ineffective in the first half with one weak shot on target. Denied a goal by James Justin on the line early in the second half after bruising past his countryman Jaka Bijol. Should have equalised from a late Bryan Mbeumo cross.
Substitutes
Bryan Mbeumo (on for Amad, 69) – 7
Had a real impact. Denied a one-vs-one shot on goal by a brilliant Bijol block. Brilliant cross to Sesko who should have scored to make it 2-2.
Diogo Dalot (on for Mazraoui, 69) – 6
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