Man Utd 3-2 Ipswich: Match report & 5 talking points as 10-man Red Devils battle to victory | OneFootball

Manchester United ended a three-game win-less streak in the Premier League by beating Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

But it was far from a straightforward victory for Ruben Amorim’s team, who played more than half of the game with ten players after Patrick Dorgu was sent off shortly before the break.

An early goal from Ipswich winger Jaden Philogene suggested it could be another long evening for Amorim and his player, but it was a respectable response as an own goal from Sam Morsy and a strike from Matthijs de Ligt turned the score-line on its head.

A second from Philogene quickly after Dorgu’s dismissal threatened to turn the tide back in Ipswich’s favour. But Harry Maguire put United back in front straight after the interval, before a gritty second half performance, albeit with limited Ipswich creativity, sealed a much-needed win.

How the game unfolded

Only four minutes had elapsed when Philogene put Ipswich in front. An early shot from Liam Delap was a warning sign of the threat the visitors carried, but the goal was truly a gift from a dreadful United mix-up. There was a breakdown in communication between Andre Onana and Dorgu, with the defender having not seen his goalkeeper come for the ball and knocking it past him. From there, Philogene simply ran onto the loose pass for an open goal tap-in.

But while Maguire forced Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer into a save with a header from a corner, too many United mistakes on the ball continued to hamstring them in gaining a foothold.

The United equaliser midway through the first half came from a stroke of luck at a set-piece, as Bruno Fernandes’ teasing delivery from a free-kick wide on the left evaded his teammates but was inadvertently turned into the net via the head of Morsy.

There was muted celebration from Ruben Amorim’s team, knowing full well that drawing level at home against a team staring relegation in the face is nothing to shout about. But the response was better and the go-ahead strike from De Ligt was celebrated vociferously. It was cruel on Palmer, making top saves in quick succession from Maguire’s downward header and Diogo Dalot’s follow-up, with De Ligt turning the ball in at the third bite of the cherry.

Ipswich had been quiet since going in front as the momentum swung in a red direction, but Dorgu’s dismissal towards the end of the first half changed things again. The wing-back was guilty of a reckless lunge on Omari Hutchinson, winning the ball but following though on the player. But only after a lengthy VAR review did referee Darren England reach for the red card.

The Tractor Boys equalised only moments later, Philogene’s low in-swinging delivery from the right nestling in the far bottom corner, with Delap enough of a distraction in the middle to ensure that Onana was caught in two minds about where the ball would end up.

Some fans hadn’t even re-taken their seats after the half-time dash to the food concourse when Maguire headed United back in front. The former skipper had been a set-piece threat throughout the first half and was grateful to connect with another top delivery from Fernandes, powering the header into the ground so that it picked up speed off the turf and was beyond the reach of Palmer.

Ipswich tried to make their man-advantage count as the clock ticked by, enjoying more of the ball with patient build-up. There were warning signs for United, but the final pass was never the right one and moves often fizzled out before becoming truly dangerous. The home side’s forays forward were limited to counter attacks and breakaways, while they defended relatively comfortably in the circumstances, something Ipswich may live to regret come the end of the season.

Check out the player ratings from Man Utd vs Ipswich here.

Old Trafford’s aura is gone

Ipswich had no fear at Old Trafford / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

30 years ago, Manchester United won 9-0 in this fixture, with Andrew Cole the first player in the Premier League era to bag five goals in a single game.

Visiting teams used to be scared to play at the Theatre of Dreams, but no more.

Ipswich have been mired in a relegation battle all season and had taken just two points from a possible 21 in the Premier League since the turn of the year prior to kick-off. And yet they began the game on the front foot, rewarded for those early efforts with the quickfire goal.

Kieran McKenna’s side drew level before half-time, having fallen behind, and there was never a feeling that Ipswich were out of this game.

United’s slow start (again)

Ipswich led after four minutes / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

Ruben Amorim said his team “didn’t exist” in the first half against Everton at the weekend, so he won’t have been happy to see United fall behind again, especially so quickly.

It was the fifth straight game in which United have conceded first, with Jaden Philogene’s opener the 14th time since Amorim took charge three months ago that the opposition has scored inside the opening 15 minutes of either a first or second half.

It makes the challenge that much harder if you're putting yourself at a disadvantage all the time.

First half goal(s)

Man Utd haven't made a habit of scoring before half-time / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

United have really struggled to find the net in the first half in recent months. The first half goals here were the first in the opening 45 minutes of a game since Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit on 19 January. Overall under Amorim, United have got on the first half scoresheet in only six of 23 games – and three of those were his first three in the job.

Dorgu’s rollercoaster night

Patrick Dorgu made a costly mistake early on / Gareth Copley/GettyImages

Patrick Dorgu was the guilty party for gifting Ipswich the opening goal. The January signing was in control of the situation but wasn’t sufficiently aware of his surroundings, not seeing that Andre Onana was coming out of goal to claim the ball.

But Dorgu responded well and spent the next 39 minutes as one of the better players on the pitch. He was determined and committed, winning his individual battles and duels. The only problem was the 20-year-old was a little overzealous when he saw the ball was there to be won from Omari Hutchinson after a poor touch from the Ipswich attacker.

Dorgu did get a foot on the bal, but his follow through was unfortunately out of control and resulted in studs being painfully planted on Hutchinson’s shin. VAR was needed but a red card was the result.

Momentum shifted immediately. Amorim withdrew Alejandro Garnacho, bringing on Noussair Mazraoui, to ensure that his team would be protected defensively at a man disadvantage. But Garnacho was perhaps the only United forward capable of stretching the pitch vertically. It was only moments after, with United sat in a low block, that Ipswich made it 2-2.

Bruno Fernandes stepped up / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

The value of set-pieces cannot be underestimated, especially when a team is struggling to create and score in open play, as United have been in recent weeks.

Arsenal proved that earlier in the season, and all three goals came courtesy of a dead-ball situation.

Delivery is hugely important and Bruno Fernandes, who was also excellent on and off the ball in open play, provided superb quality when he needed to.

If United can harness this going forward, there could be a positive upturn.