LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows a thing or two about impact substitutions, but even Manchester United's former supersub extraordinaire must have been pleasantly surprised to see Romelu Lukaku step off the bench and score within 38 seconds on Wednesday.
Until then, Solskjaer had seemed outwitted by Rafael Benitez's contain-and-counter tactics. But, by the end of a bitterly cold night, Marcus Rashford had added a second to seal a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
It makes the Norwegian the first United manager since Matt Busby in 1946 to win his opening four games. He acknowledged it would be "hard" for him to relinquish the role and return to his "day job" at Molde in Norway in May.
"Of course I won't want to leave," the 45-year-old said, semi-teasingly. "I don't want to."
His smile suggested he knows he will almost certainly have to, although much more of this and all bets will be off.
If United's flight to the warmth of Dubai tomorrow for a mid-season training break should be a happy one, Newcastle remain far too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
Things certainly appeared to have changed since the last time Solskjaer patrolled the away technical area at the St James' Park in 2014.
1946
The only other year a Manchester United manager in Matt Busby won his first four league games, a feat matched by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Back then, Alan Pardew was in charge of a home team whose 3-0 win confirmed Cardiff's relegation from the Premier League.
Not that Jose Mourinho's interim successor could afford to relax, even with a new-found sense of creative liberation, that was cowed and cramped by his predecessor, leading to 12 goals before the game.
Indeed, United could easily have conceded early when Phil Jones' poor back pass played Salomon Rondon onside. In the end, the defender recovered superbly to rescue the situation.
"Finally we kept a clean sheet," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "A very professional performance. We didn't hit the heights that we can do, but we were in control, kept plugging away and got the goals."
At the other end, Paul Pogba, the chief beneficiary of the regime change with four goals and three assists, regularly advanced down the inside-left channel with destructive intent but the final ball was not quite coming off against the hosts' five-man defence.
Yet this was also very much a collective effort, a masterclass in the art of assiduous closing down. With less than half an hour left, the time had come to liberate Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez from the bench.
Lukaku scored with his first touch when Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka uncharacteristically spilled Rashford's dipping 25m free kick. The forward reacted with alacrity, responding faster than Jamaal Lascelles to drive the rebound home from six yards.
Said Solskjaer: "A good first touch from a sub. When you see big Romelu Lukaku running towards you, as a 'keeper you might take your hands away."
All that remained was for an unmarked Rashford to slide a shot through Dubravka's legs at the end of a move he had started. It involved Lukaku cueing up Sanchez, who marked his return from hamstring trouble with an assist that rekindled hopes of a top-four spot.
"Marcus has a great hit," said Solskjaer. "He must have been watching Cristiano (Ronaldo) practising. Without hitting the heights, it was a very professional performance."
THE GUARDIAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days..
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-ikhsan-fandi-scores-in-third-successive-match-for-raufoss/
05/22/2019 Comments Off on Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for Raufoss SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur will be without Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, manager
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash
Soccer Football - Champions League - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 6, 2019 FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Lee
Champions League news: "Our defence looked like schoolboys
Football: Juventus' old guard bidding to finish job against Ajax kids Juventus have put their bid to wrap up an eighth consecutive Serie A title on the back burner as they focus on their European
Juve's old guard bidding to finish job against Ajax kids
Iker Casillas 'cannot play football again' after heart attack in training "He's well, calm, following the medical protocols that have been set" Sara Carbonero. His wife, journalist Sara Carbonero, issued an update on Casillas' condition from hospital. She said: "He's well, calm, following the medical protocols that have been set.
Iker Casillas says he is improving, his heart is 'content
Mourinho put on Ranieri's initials consequence of his sacking by Leicester last year, a sign of respect to the man who nine months earlier had taken them to the title. The Portuguese is having a hard time at Old Trafford with the Reds in eighth place,18 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and eight from the top four.
Premier League Sacking Season kicks-off as Fulham Fires Jokanovic
The 2016 S.League (also known as the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League for sponsorship reasons) was the 21st season of the S.League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1996.
Manchester United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David De Gea Manchester United's perfect record under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought renewed hope to the club
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea "are going the right way" after watching the Blues lose 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in the we were not able to stay in the match."
Chelsea's Sarri hints at Eden Hazard exit after his
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been fined £45,000 over comments he made regarding referee Kevin Friend following his side's draw with West Ham, the Football Association has confirmed
Jurgen Klopp fined $83,000 AUD over referee comments
Dec 22, 2018 · Fantasy Football 2018-19 Champions League FA Cup Gunnar Solskjaer off to perfect start as Manchester United hit five past hopeless Cardiff the regulation 90 to beat Etheridge for a fifth
Arsenal won Sunday's marquee Premier League matchup, beating Manchester United 2-0 in a key contest in the race for the top four. World Football Arsenal Move into Top 4 with Win over Ole
Premier League round-up: Manchester United into top four with
Football: Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players after stylish win CARDIFF, United Kingdom (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his Manchester United players after they gave him the perfect start to his reign with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff just days after Jose Mourinho was sacked.
Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man Utd players after stylish win
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch premier league live stream hd
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch english premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming canada
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch live soccer game today
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch soccer game live now
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch live soccer online free streaming now
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming live free
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming xbox
free watch soccer live streaming
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch indian premier league live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
#gym #henderson #copaamerica #24x7 #commentimemorabili #hoffenhiem #PartyTime #GarageCafeDxb #footballstreaming #freekick #golf #alissonbecker #vip #arsenal #winner #lionelmessi #lfc #chocolate #MyDubai #Liverpool #beatifulgame #tokyo #trollfootball #golazo #linkstreaming #realmadridcf #chocolatecoffee #football #risate #arsenalfantv #oasisofficial #ballondor #bayernmunich #comics #soccermemes #433skills #liverpoolcity #transfernews #footballfans #livestreams #livesports #freekicks #jadwalbolahariini #thebeatles #nikesoccer #football #coyg #pagani #champion #firmino #liverpoolfc #ucl #watchlive #championship #serieatim #adidasslipon #ronaldo #coutinho #kickoff #coffeebreak #manchestercity #freekickerz #league1 #nationsleague #battuteepiche #kopisusu #klopp #zinedinezidane #petercrouch #acmilan #4Series #roadtrip #premierleague #realmadrid #realmadrid #uefanationsleague #mancity #comico
0 Comments