Chris Wilder is long enough in the tooth to know that, when you are playing a big team with big players, those at Manchester United’s disposal are capable of ‘big moments’.
For all of their possession, this felt like a game in which Erik ten Hag needed a rabbit out of the hat sort of moment, Sheffield United twice going ahead at Old Trafford and threatening to do to the embattled Dutchman what they did to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in 2021.
That was, however, until Bruno Fernandes turned on the edge of the box and thumped Manchester United in front for the first time with 81 minutes on the clock. And it that is Fernandes’ ‘weaker’ foot – lashing a 25 yard screamer past Wes Foderingham – then one suspects he could knock down a brick wall with his right, thumping home the sort of shot that, if the net had not been in the way, may have sent those on the terraces tumbling like skittles.
Bruno Fernandes fires Manchester United to victory
“(My Sheffield United side) work hard. The structure of the team is good,” sighs Wilder, The Blades going unrewarded for another brave display away at a Premier League giant just like against Liverpool at Anfield a few weeks earlier (Yorkshire Live).
“But (Man United) find the big moments; Bruno off his left peg.”
Fernandes, the captain leading by example with a performance Roy Keane, Bryan Robson or Eric Cantona would have been proud of, slotted home an equaliser from the penalty spot before rolling back the years with a classic Bruno banger from distance.
The Portugal international then helped end Rasmus Hojlund’s drought with a fine assist, his ninth ‘goal contribution’ in the last five games across all competitions.
“We expect to be under pressure and the goalkeeper to make some good saves which he did, which is great for Wes (Foderingham) because he’s been a good pro,” Wilder adds, his shot-stopper denying Alejandro Garnacho twice in the opening 45.
“We scored two away from home to take the game deep. They’re positives. The negatives, yet again, are if we make better decisions from a defensive point of view, if we defend properly and individually as a team we come away like we should should have done with so many points than we’ve got in my time here.
“That’s the disappointing thing. The ball goes in the back of the net far too easily.”
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils back in the top six
For all the quality and the power of Fernandes’ late thunderbolt, the former Sporting Lisbon star was certainly given plenty of time and space to pick his spot.
Sheffield United are now ten points adrift of safety with only four games to go.
Ten Hag’s Red Devils will host another team in the relegation zone on Saturday, Burnley travelling across the North West as United look to extend their advantage over Newcastle in sixth place while closing the gap on Tottenham Hotspur just outside the Champions League spots.