Man Utd 3 Ipswich 2: Ten-man Red Devils hold on to quieten relegation talk but still suffer calamitous first half

PATRICK DORGU owes his new team-mate Harry Maguire a drink.

And while they’re at the bar, Andre Onana should probably be buying a couple for the England defender too.

Maguire was the Manchester United match-winner for a second straight home game – nodding in the decisive goal just after half-time.

But that only came after Dorgu and Onana had done their utmost to keep Ipswich in the game during a calamitous first half.

The new £25 million full-back handed Jaden Philogene an opening goal on a plate after an early mix-up with his goalkeeper.

And to compound his misery on his first Prem start at Old Trafford, the Dane got a red card just before half-time for an X-rated tackle on Omari Hutchinson.

Minutes later Onana stood rooted to the spot as Philogene’s cross shot into the box trickled past him into the corner to level the game up. 

In the end it didn’t matter as – just like he did in the FA Cup earlier this month – Maguire used his head to come to United’s rescue.

But Ruben Amorim must be wondering why this team have to do everything the hard way.

Even by the standards of this nightmare season, it was a shocker of a start by United.

BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS

The Tractor Boys last scored at Old Trafford way back in 1992 but they were handed a goal gift-wrapped and on a plate within four minutes.

There was absolutely no danger as Dorgu looked to shepherd a hopeful ball forward back to his goalkeeper.

But the Dane never looked and he pushed his back pass beyond the helpless Onana.

Jaden Philogene – who had trotted after the ball forward more in hope than expectation – could not believe his luck as he walked it into an empty net.

The two United players looked at each other accusingly – but it was hard to blame Onana for this one.

It was the easiest goal the £20 million winter signing from Aston Villa will ever score.

And what a boost for Kieran McKenna on his return to Old Trafford.

The Ipswich boss spent five years in a variety of roles on the coaching staff and was well regarded – before leaving to take charge at Portman Road in December 2021.

Given they have lost seven of their 13 league games at home this season, you could forgive the home faithful for fearing the worst.

Yet United showed some spirit by fighting back with Alex Palmer making a flying save to deny Maguire an equaliser.

In the end the Red Devils needed a helping hand of their own to get level.

Bruno Fernandes fired a curling free-kick into a crowd of players and Town skipper Sam Morsy nodded into his own net.

Four minutes later they had turned the game on his head as Fernades sent over a corner that was met by Maguire.

His header was saved by Palmer, who also pushed out the rebound from Diogo Dalot but Matthijs De Ligt was on hand to fire the loose ball into the roof of the net for his first goal at Old Trafford.

The keeper who arrived from West Brom in the transfer window could count himself unlucky but at least he kept his team in it by saving from Dorgu minutes later.

It looked as though it was going to be straight-forward from there as Ipswich struggled to stay in the game.

But nothing is every straight-forward for United these days.

Dorgu’s challenge on Omari Hutchinson on the touchline near the dug-outs looked nasty but was not even considered worthy of a yellow card by ref Darren England.

However he was told by the VAR to go and have another look and the more he looked, the more obvious it became that it was a clear red.

The £25 million January signing’s first Prem game at Old Trafford had been nothing if not eventful. Not one he will want to tell the grandchildren about.

Amorim did a quick reshuffle – throwing on Noussair Mazrouai for Alejandro Garnacho – and they were still composing themselves when the visitors levelled.

It was another pantomime goal and Philogene’s hopeful ball into the box evaded everyone – including Liam Delap – and Onana as it rolled into the corner.

What must the United boss have been thinking as he made his way back to the dressing room at half-time? Yet again his team had hit the self-destruct button.

Clearly he got something right though as his team began the second half in determined mood and restored their lead within a couple of minutes of the re-start.

Yet again – for the sixth goal in succession – it came from a Fernandes set piece as the skipper curled over a corner.

Maguire got above Philogene and planted his downward header beyond the despairing dive of Palmer.

Ipswich had plenty of time to find a way back in again but were restricted to long range efforts with Jack Taylor slicing an effort wide.

Another promising moment saw Jens Cajuste’s low cross just evade Philogene – who was hunting for a hat-trick.

But – believe it or not – despite being a man down, United got through the second half without too many scares, much to the relief of the Old Trafford faithful.

There had been more than enough of those in the first half.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk