FROM bottom of the table after two matches – to fifth place and looking down on Liverpool and Chelsea three matches later.
The Erik ten Hag show is still in its infancy but there are plenty of green shoots of revival starting to show and grow.
The Dutch perfectionist will be irritated at the way United took their foot off the gas when they really should have killed Leicester off long before the break.
After a convincing first-half when they never gave Jamie Vardy and his mates one touch inside their own box, United could have been suckered at the end when James Justin blazed over.
However successive clean sheets away from home is not to be sniffed at, nor is back-to-back away wins for the first time in September.
The last time United were bottom of the table after losing their opening two games was in 1993 – and by May ’94 they had gone on to win the title.
It’s asking a lot for history to repeat itself.
But last night Ten Hag’s bench included Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro and club captain Harry Maguire, with new £84.5million Brazilian Antony still to be unwrapped.
United remain a work in progress but at least they have found their winning ways again and fragile confidence is slowly growing.
United took this game by the scruff of the neck with a dominant first half display against a Leicester side high on energy but low on a genuine goal threat.
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Ten Hag’s team kept the Foxes at arm’s length, like a boxer keeping his opponent out of reach with his jab and superior reach, toying with Brendan Rodger’s winless side at times.
They bossed midfield and restricted Leicester to a few hopeful long-range pot-shots which either flew off target or were comfortably fielded by David de Gea.
In contrast, United’s breakthrough goal, midway through the first half was clinical and precise as they carved through the Foxes wafer-thin defence with speed and purpose.
It has to be said Leicester contributed to their own downfall, leaving themselves hopelessly exposed at the back as left-back Luke Thomas strayed recklessly forward.
Danny Ward’s booming clearance was taken down by Diogo Dallo who spotted Bruno Fernandes had burst aggressively into the gaping hole and sped the ball to his skipper.
Suddenly United had a 3-2 advantage and Fernandes played in Rashford who slipped the ball into the path of Jadon Sancho who expertly rounded Ward before rolling home his second goal of the season.
It was that simple – hot knife through butter stuff.
If United had a fault it was that despite their possession they failed to kill Leicester off while they were in total command and gave the hosts a glimmer of hope.
James Maddison delivered a warning with a 30-yard screamer of a free kick which De Gea did brilliantly to claw to safety at full stretch.
Ten Hag reacted, sending on Casemiro for Anthony Elanga, then Ronaldo for goalscorer Sancho.
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With his wanderlust cured for now, Ronaldo menaced and came close with a spectacular scissors kick but in the end United ground out their third win on the spin.
It will do for now.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
