Marcus Rashford sends timely reminder as Erik ten Hag moment speaks volumes (original) (raw)

Marcus Rashford ended a 13-game Premier League goal drought by scoring in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday, giving Erik ten Hag a much-needed win

Marcus Rashford is back in the goals

Erik ten Hag knows better than to celebrate too wildly when beating a team that is already odds-on to make an instant return to the Championship.

He knows better than to get carried away while dismissing a side that looks painfully ill-equipped to survive in the Premier League. But with his double fist-pump, it was clear one moment in this comfortable Manchester United victory gave him particular pleasure.

And that was the moment Marcus Rashford reminded the world he is a player. First the vision to spot a route to the bottom corner, then the short back-lift and strike that smuggled itself home. It will probably not make Rashford’s career highlights reel but, in the context of his recent travails, it was one of his more significant goals.

And it was significant for the slightly beleaguered Ten Hag, who has kept faith with Rashford in the belief he can cajole the 26-year-old attacker back to prime form. Ten Hag has shown himself capable of ruthlessness with some players - Jadon Sancho being an example - but has clearly decided Rashford needs the confidence that comes with being a go-to player.

And Ten Hag has had criticism for sticking with a player who had last scored a Premier League goal in early March. Rashford’s pitiful productivity in front of goal has typified United’s, as a whole. His struggles were starkly highlighted by the silence that accompanied his latest non-selection for England.

There were no headlines to tell you Rashford had not been selected by Lee Carsley because no-one thought he had a chance of being selected. And this is a player who was once one of the first names on an England squad list.

Rashford was not sensational against a Southampton team that were staggeringly vulnerable but he looked more committed, more dangerous than he has done for some time. Unlike on so many occasions over the past year, he earned himself the right to have a bit of a swagger and after his hit had doubled a United lead earned by Matthijs de Ligt’s header, the only surprise was that Rashford did not make more hay in the Southampton sunshine.

The style of Russell Martin’s side, coupled with defensive incompetence, will not just mean a lot of losses this season, it will mean a fair few hammerings. It was a good job United are not that good. This was a win Ten Hag desperately needed but it was not one that will make anyone think they will be contenders.

Your turn! Will Marcus Rashford now kick on for the rest of the season? Join the debate in the comments section

Erik ten Hag saw his side pick up their second win of the Premier League season (

Image:

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

One basic problem - and when it comes to successful football, this is about as fundamental as it gets - is that there seems to be a United mistake waiting to happen in every minute of a match. It had been an opening half-hour strewn with minor errors before Diogo Dalot conjured up a major one, foolishly going to ground and fouling after being caught flat-footed by the hugely promising Tyler Dibling.

What followed was a summation of Southampton’s calamitous start to the season, Cameron Archer’s spot-kick more a pass-back than a penalty and De Ligt then left in not-so-splendid isolation to nod United ahead. And after Rashford had reacquainted himself with the scoresheet after a six-month break, that was that.

Rashford could not add to that strike before he was taken off but a sign of his more bullish mood came in one of those nasty dipping volleys from angled long range that used to be his calling card. It seemed everyone in the United contingent on the benches wanted to congratulate Rashford, just as every player had lauded him following his first half success.

They know there is still a match-winner lurking in Rashford, Ten Hag knows there is still a match-winner lurking in Rashford. This was indeed a victory that Ten Hag needed badly and what he needs just as badly is for this goal to send Rashford on the road back to his brilliant best.

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