After kicking off the 2026-27 season on the road, matchday two brought Manchester United back to Old Trafford to confront another promoted side: Ipswich Town.
Last Saturday against Hull City at the MKM Stadium, events refused to follow the expected script.
Fixtures like that are the ones United should be filing under “three points in the bag,” yet that was not the case.
Hull stunned Michael Carrick and his side, as set-pieces exposed the Red Devils and delivered a 2-0 defeat.
Facing Ipswich at Old Trafford, where United have secured 12 wins from their 19 Premier League home matches since the turn of the year, presented the ideal chance to reverse the early setback and get the season properly under way.
Fortunately, that proved to be the case. Goals from hat-trick hero Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and an own goal from Jacob Greaves fired United to a perfect comeback win over the Premier League newcomers, 5-2, with Chuba Akpom netting Ipswich’s second late on.
It was the perfect response after the MKM disaster-class, and here is what we learned:
Defence leaving Senne Lammens exposed as Man United struggle for clean sheets
United’s defence continues to let Senne Lammens down. In their last 13 league games, the team have managed only three clean sheets.
The Red Devils cannot chase glory while they keep leaking goals.
Before Leif Davis broke the deadlock for Ipswich, Lammens produced two brilliant saves. He must have felt a clean sheet was within reach.
Yet Luke Shaw struggled to contain Issahaku Fatawu’s pace. The winger then set up Davis, while Bryan Mbeumo failed to track the scorer and denied Lammens that shut-out.
United must now make clean sheets their mission; only then can they lay the foundation for better results.
Left-back problems
Watching Shaw against AC Milan, Hull City and then Ipswich makes it obvious why the 20-time English champions needed to land a reliable left-back. Shaw’s legs have gone.
The Ipswich goal stemmed directly from his failure to stop Fatawu. The winger found it easy to glide past him and set up Davis. Even when Carrick seemed to have relieved Shaw of overlapping duties and handed that role to Diogo Dalot, he still looked like a liability.
After his assist, Fatawu relished every chance to take him on again, clearly sensing he had the Englishman’s number.
Shaw will have to step up if he can, yet Carrick needs to explore his left-back options carefully. A solid arrival before the transfer deadline would be most welcome.
The false nine is not working
Benjamin Sesko’s lack of involvement in pre-season has kept him out of the starting line-up.
As a result, Carrick has turned to Matheus Cunha as a false nine.
Cunha in that role simply is not working. He drifts into a free role and poses little threat to opposing defences. The lack of a genuine presence up front is undermining United’s attacking play.
Crosses into the box find no one and gift opponents an easy time.
If Sesko is not yet ready to start, Carrick should reconsider who leads the line. Bryan Mbeumo performed well in that position during pre-season and would surely have been the stronger option in Sesko’s absence.
Mbeumo could start up front, with Shea Lacey on the right while Amad remains sidelined.
Alternatively, Marcus Rashford could lead the line effectively and offer a sharper striking option than Cunha.
The positives
Kobbie Mainoo brought a genuine breath of fresh air when he returned to the side from the bench against Hull.
United simply cannot play without him. His inventive passing and strong work ethic at the centre of the park, combined with his sharp ability to read danger, make him a real asset for Carrick.
Hopefully he did not pick up an injury after appearing to do so before being substituted.
Beyond Mainoo, United feast whenever hat-trick hero Fernandes has a good game.
Last season it was assists; this season he is delivering the goals. Anyone who doubted the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year, especially after his quiet performance versus Hull, has surely been silenced.
Rashford, meanwhile, has looked dangerous in his fast start since returning. His threat in attack, combined with his willingness to put in the work and help out defensively, will endear him to United fans.
What next
This win is one to build on. It lays the foundation for Carrick to take this United side back to the top, challenging for glory once more.
Featured image by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
