MANCHESTER UNITED have secured a fourth straight win in the Premier League after beating strugglers Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.
Erik ten Hag’s men took the lead just 36 SECONDS in through Rasmus Hojlund’s early strike.
The Dane doubled his tally just minutes later after Alejandro Garnacho’s effort deflected off him and flew past Thomas Kaminski in goal.
Carlton Morris pulled one back for Luton on 14 minutes, but the goals dried up after a frantic start at Kenilworth Road.
- Match result: Luton 1-2 Man Utd
- Luton team: Kaminski, Mengi, Osho, Bell, Doughty, Lokonga, Barkley, Ogbene, Chong, Morris, Woodrow
- Man Utd team: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund
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Ten Hag looking to continue form
Over their next five games, Man Utd have four fixtures they would expect to win.
They also have a Manchester derby thrown into the mix also.
It is the business end of the season now and the Red Devils have a real opportunity to put pressure on the sides above them.
Hojlund finding form in 2024
Rasmus Hojlund becomes the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games today.
Having had a tough start to life at Old Trafford, the Danish striker has stuck to his game and has reaped the rewards.
He has formed a partnership with Rashford and Garnacho in the front three and they are a big reason Man Utd can now dream of getting a top four spot this season.
Red Devils hold on for narrow win
Man Utd managed to take all the points from Kenilworth Road but it was by no means an easy victory.
Luton Town got themselves back into the game after going two goals down and created enough pressure to take something from this match.
Rob Edwards will be disappointed that his side could not do more with their possessionb but they did suffer a blow when their top scorer Elijah Adebayo suffered an injury in the warm up.
Read the full match report here.
FT: Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
You cannot fault the effort levels from Luton Town this afternoon.
Having gone two-nil down to two early strikes from the visitors, you feared they could be on the end of a hiding.
Instead, they regrouped and for the remainder of the game pressured the Red Devils and should have got at least a draw.
View from SunSport’s Jack Rosser at Kenilworth Road
Manchester United survive a rotten afternoon in Luton.
They did well to avoid a repeat of the end of the first half after the break but that was a bizarre game from start to finish.
If Luton can play like that against the teams around them and not just when the big boys turn up at the Kenny then they have a real chance of staying up, points deductions or not.
FT: Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
The referee brings the game to a close.
So close but no cigar for Luton Town.
They had Man Utd on the ropes for a lot of the game but could not find that clincal edge in front of goal.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
90+4. As yet another corner comes in, Barkley gets up ahead of Rashford to head it.
His effort clips the top of the crossbar as it goes over.
That seemed to be the chance The Hatters were waiting for.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
90+2. Luton Town are forcing a series of corners but not able to create anything from them.
Fernandes picks up the ball sends Garnacho free.
The defender stands up to him and best he can do is to force a corner.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
90. Luton have yet another corner but the delivery is poor.
It allows Man Utd the chance to half clear the ball.
We are going to have four additional minutes here.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
88. Massive chance to put this game to bed.
Kaminski’s pass is cut out by Fernandes as he bears down on goal.
He looks to drill a shot into the far corner but it is just wide of the post.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
86. Hojlund is replaced for Amrabat.
It looks like Erik ten Hag is looking to defend the lead they have for the remainder of the game now.
The pressure is on Luton now to create that one clear-cut chance that can lead to a goal.
Credit: Reuters Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
84. Townsend cuts in from the right wing and looks to get a shot away with his left foot.
It takes a massive deflection and goes out for a corner.
There is a huge roar from The Hatters fans, willing their side on to get a goal.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
82. Lindelof is shown a yellow card for a clumsy lunge.
Doughty is replaced by Berry for the closing stages of the game.
As Harry Styles watches on from the stands, the ball just seems to be heading in one direction at the moment.
View from SunSport’s Jack Rosser at Kenilworth Road
The ferocious atmosphere from the first half here at Kenilworth Road has calmed down a touch after the break.
Luton are still looking dangerous in spots but Manchester United have improved – from a very low bar – and cooled the home fans somewhat.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
80. What a chance for Man Utd to seal the victory.
Garnacho does well getting to the byline and then looks to cut it back to Hojlund.
With only the keeper to beat, he seems to have the ball stuck under his feet and his shot is straight at Kaminski.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
78. As the ball is crossed into the box, it falls to Osho.
He looks to get a shot away, with the goal at his mercy.
Man Utd throw bodies in front of the effort and manage to block.
Credit: Getty Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
76. Mainoo is booked for a challenge on Clark.
Dangerous position for Luton Town to capitalise.
Barkley and Doughty are stood over the set piece once again.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
74. Evans is penalised for a foul on Townsend on the halfway line.
Man Utd are looking to drop deep when Luton Town have the ball, inviting them to try and break them down.
When The Hatters play at a fast pace, they seem to stretch the visitors’ defence and look capable of scoring.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
72. Fernandes goes down calling for a free kick but the referee is not interested.
It is difficult to predict a winner in this game.
If Man Utd manage to hold on for all three points, Rob Edwards would have to look at this an opportunity missed.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
70. Rashford wins a free kick on the edge of the box for the visitors.
Fernandes stands over the set piece and looks to go for goal.
Kaminski punches the ball clear.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
68. Both Clark and Townsend have come on for the hosts.
Morris seems to be dropping deeper looking for the ball now.
He seems more effective higher up the pitch, offering himself as a focal point for the Luton attacks.
Credit: Alamy
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
66. Man Utd seem happy to pass the ball around and protect their lead.
It could be a dangerous tactic if The Hatters manage to score.
Garnacho is clean through on the break, with only the keeper to beat.
Once again they look to round the keeper but Kaminski gets a hand to it.
The Man Utd winger picks up the loose ball but his shot is blocked by a mixture of defender and keeper.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
64. There is still plenty of the game remaining for Luton to change their fortunes.
Chong looks to get a shot away from the edge of the box but it is well blocked by Evans.
Doughty picks up the ball and looks to cross, winning a corner in the process.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
62. Barkley is hauled to the ground but the referee plays the advantage.
The move breaks down and Man Utd recycle the ball, playing it all the way back to Onana.
Bruno Fernandes is seeing a lot more of the ball in this second half.
Luton Town 1-2 Man Utd
60. Barkley is such an integral part of this Luton Town team.
His creativity and experience links their midfield and attack so well.
United counter and Fernandes takes the ball around Kaminski, he looks to slot the ball into the empty net but a fantastic sliding challenge blocks the effort.
The Man Utd skipper kicks the ball into the advertising boards in anger.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
