Harry Maguire was reflecting on a sudden change of fortunes for Manchester United. “We didn’t see it coming,” the captain said.
Those sentiments might be echoed. Indeed, they could be voiced at two points this campaign.
It is safe to say few expected Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to lose the battle of the Uniteds on Wednesday: not to their Sheffield namesakes, to a team previously on course to get the lowest points tally in Premier League history.
In a season of shock results, this was perhaps the most surprising. “The boys are so disappointed; we didn’t expect it. We came into the game confident,” Maguire added.
And yet when United lost to Arsenal in November, few saw their subsequent run coming. To go 13 league games undefeated, to take 33 points from a possible 39, catapulted United from 15th to first, from a club supposedly in crisis to, perhaps, the rank of title favourites. It was a transformative upturn.
But the defeat to Sheffield United revives old criticisms of Solskjaer’s United. Few veer so dramatically between feast and famine, or so unexpectedly.
When they were beaten by Arsenal at Old Trafford, they had a solitary point at home. They had suffered their joint heaviest defeat at Old Trafford since 1930. Unflattering comparisons could be drawn between Solskjaer and Frank Lampard, who was on a long unbeaten run.
Rewind to the start of Solskjaer’s reign and United followed 14 wins in 17 with eight defeats in 12 matches. There was no middle ground. Last season’s home defeat to relegation-threatened Burnley proved the prelude to a 19-game unbeaten run. None of which felt entirely logical.
Consistency has been the defining quality of recent champions. Solskjaer’s United have displayed a capacity to produce title-winning form over three months, but not nine. That matters less in a campaign when 90 points will not be required, let alone 100.
The trend of his reign, where one bad result can lead to another, offers a concern. Another run of 33 points from 39, in contrast, would go a long way to rendering United champions.
His mentor Sir Alex Ferguson suffered the occasional mishap to lesser lights but was a master in reacting brilliantly.
Solskjaer has seemed to surf waves in the good times but risk getting swept away from them in the bad spells. His United went six games without a win last season; later, they had a run of only two wins in seven. Repeat either and the picture at the top of the table would be radically different. An aberration cannot become the start of a slide.
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Manchester United v Sheffield United ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 6. Made first save of the evening – with his feet - from Billy Sharp after 16 minutes. Sharp later nudged him, but the Spaniard was still weak on the corner which led to Bryan’s opening goal. Was crowded out by Blades at every corner; a brutal, effective tactic. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6. Liveliest defender in attack and his 51st minute shot was deflected, but it were the defenders on the other team who were praised, not Manchester United’s. EPA -
Harry Maguire - 6. Foul given against him for a challenge on Ramsdale when Maguire’s eyes were on the ball to negate Martial’s strike. Scored his first goal at Old Trafford with a powerful, accurate header, to equalise after 64. Poor before second goal, too. EPA -
Axel Tuanzebe - 5. Started after Eric Bailly picked up a knock in training. Caught up in Bryan’s header before goal and booked for a poor challenge on Fleck just before half time. PA -
Alex Telles - 6. Chance to shine but gave ball away after seven minutes. Fine ball over the defence for Fernandes, but not the attacking threat Shaw is. Quality outswinging corner set up Maguire’s equaliser and he had a 76th minute shot deflected onto the bar. Slow reaction before Blades’ winner. AP -
Nemanja Matic - 5. Too ponderous in first half. Dropped back into central defence and stopped Burke with a last man tackle late on. Slow getting towards ball before Blades’ winner. AFP -
Paul Pogba - 5. Poor performance and way below the levels of recent weeks. Didn’t create enough chances, despite all United’s possession. Defeat was a big disappointment after Sunday’s win against Liverpool. PA -
Marcus Rashford - 5. Shot wide after 11, but made too little impact. Free-kick on the hour went straight at Ramsdale. Didn’t see Cavani’s run across the near post on 84. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes - 6. Struggled to unpick the Blades but flicked a Telles ball into a danger area after 41. Often played amid the Blades’ five man defence without much joy. Incredible run back to dispossess Ampadu. Reuters -
Mason Greenwood - 7. Super runs and fast feet as he was United’s best attacker in the first half. Shot wide after 48 when set up by Fernandes. Encouraging. AP -
Anthony Martial - 4. Scored a hat-trick the last time the Blades visited, but had only managed two in 15 league games this season. First half tap in disallowed and he couldn’t get a header on target after being set up by Bruno on 42. Shifted left when Cavani arrived. Lamentable when getting back after losing ball before the Blades’ second. Reuters -
SUBSTITUTES: Edinson Cavani (on for Greenwood 65') - N/A. Heavy touch knocked ball out of play on 79. AFP -
Donny van de Beek (On for Tuanzebe 81') - N/A. Came on when Manchester United pushed to get back into the game. Luke Shaw (On for Telles 81') - N/A. EPA -
SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7. Shaky moment with the disallowed goal aside, the Englishman held on to the majority of shots that came his way. AP -
Chris Basham - 7. So often produced impeccable tackles with his most important being a nice interception in the 71st minute to help prevent Man United from going 2-1 up. PA -
Ethan Ampadu - 8. Rarely put a foot wrong from his timing in challenges to how he’s able to read the game and put pressure on opposition strikers. AP -
Phil Jagielka - 6. The 38-year-old has clearly slowed down in his veteran years and lost track of Maguire for the equaliser, but he did make a few vital blocks in the dying moments of the game. PA -
George Baldock - 8. In addition to playing a key role in the winner, Baldock fought for every loose ball and was one of the most committed players on the pitch. AP -
Kean Bryan - 8. His speed and box-to-box style was only topped by his flawless header to give the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute. EPA -
John Lundstram - 7. Lundstram sat deep and couldn’t get to grips with the pace of the game in the first half, but in the second, he was one of the driving forces behind Wilder’s men physically intimidating Ole’s side. Getty -
Oliver Norwood - 8. Showcased good energy, great vision and the sort of grit this team desperately needs in the midst of a relegation battle. AP -
John Fleck - 9. From carrying Sheffield United into the Red Devils’ half to producing a gorgeous assist for Bryan’s opener, Fleck looked to be back to his best on Wednesday night. PA -
David McGoldrick - 5. With limited movement, an inability to hold up the ball and poor finishing, the veteran forward struggled at Old Trafford. Getty -
Billy Sharp - 6. After testing de Gea in the 17th minute before almost fouling him in the lead-up to the Blades’ opener, Sharp rarely offered much in the final third. AFP -
SUBSTITUTES: Jayden Bogle - 6. Was beaten for pace on a few occasions but caused some problems when pushing the ball into the corner. AP -
Oliver Burke - 7. Made the perfect impact with a strong strike that found its way into the back of the net to win the game for the Blades. Rhian Brewster - N/A. Showed a lot of energy but wasn’t really given much time to shine on the ball.
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Hence, perhaps, Maguire’s rallying cry. “We’ve got to pick ourselves up,” the defender said.
“It’s all good and easy when you’re winning and you’re playing well, but now it’s time to stand up and be counted. When you get kicked down, it’s how quickly you bounce back. Saturday’s a big one and we’ve got to get three points.”
There are lessons to be learned. United have conceded first in 10 league games and, while they have recovered to win seven of them, that hardly feels a failsafe formula.
Kean Bryan’s header was the eighth set-piece goal United have conceded, and only four teams have let in more. Solskjaer has shown a sure touch of late in perming from a large squad which offers strength in depth but his decision-making can vary from inspired to flawed and arguably he got it wrong against the Blades.
David de Gea will not be dropped but there is a growing case for Edinson Cavani to displace the out-of-sorts Anthony Martial in attack now.
United require a response, because Solskjaer’s reign teaches them good can become bad very quickly – and vice versa.
