Solskjaer praises fighting spirit in six-goal thriller

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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lauded his team’s never-say-die spirit after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw at promoted Sheffield United.

The visitors had trailed by two goals midway through the second half, before a three-goal burst in seven minutes gave them an unlikely lead, only to surrender it in the dying moments.

Sheffield United had lost all seven contests between the clubs since a Brian Deane double gave the Blades victory on the opening weekend of the inaugural Premier League season in 1992.

The Red Devils have won 13 league titles since then but all under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put his faith in youth this season and results have been inconsistent to say the least – beating Chelsea and Leicester, losing to West Ham and Newcastle.

This game was a microcosm of Manchester United this term – filled with the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

“Sometimes football is beyond tactics,” said Solskjaer. “The energy compared to ours in the first half and then we get that goal and we start to believe.

“The difference in the team this year compared to last is huge. They never give in.

“Last year we would have gone four or five down instead of coming back.We would not have been able to come back.

The Norwegian deployed a back three with Phil Jones coming in, but the former England defender was run ragged before being replaced at the break.

It was Jones who was at fault for the Blades’ opener when he was easily brushed off the ball by Lys Moussett before the Frenchman picked out John Lundstram in space in the box and when the former Everton trainee’s effort was blocked by David de Gea the ball rebounded off John Fleck and into the net.

It was tough on De Gea who moments earlier had produced an instinctive save from a David McGoldrick header to keep it scoreless.

Solskjaer reverted to a more customary back four after the break with Jesse Lingard replacing the struggling Jones, but it didn’t take long for the Blades to double their advantage.

Goalscorer Fleck released the excellent Moussett midway inside the visitors’ half who took advantage of a stagnant United rearguard to drill a low effort into the corner of the net.

United had barely laid a finger on the Blades at that point but they got back into the contest with 20 minutes remaining through an unlikely source.

Chris Basham failed to clear a Daniel James cross and Brandon Williams coolly arrowed a low effort into the far corner.

Suddenly the momentum had swung and within two minutes the visitors had leveled.

Mason Greenwood, who had replaced Andreas Pereira moments earlier, slid in to poke an inch-perfect Marcus Rashford cross into the net.

The home side were now rattled and after being barely able to lay a finger on the hosts for over an hour, Manchester United went ahead when James picked out Rashford in the box.

But this game, which had just about everything, was to have a little bit more.

With seconds remaining of normal time, Sub Oli McBurnie, who replaced a limping Moussett, volleyed home a Callum Robinson cross with De Gea only able to get fingertips to it.

There followed an agonising wait for a VAR check for handball but mercifully for the Blades replays should it came off the Scot’s chest and the goal stood.

It was the first time Manchester United had conceded three goals against a promoted side in five years, but they will just be grateful to return over the Pennines with a point.

After the dust has settled, the Blades remain a point better off than their opponents, who are nine points off the Champions League spots.