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Manchester United Monthly Review - September 2015

13th September 2014 - Premier League Match 4 - Man Utd v Arsenal

It was time for an early season title showdown at Old Trafford and it was a very cagey start to the match. Midway through the first half, United grabbed the opening goal when Jones' header broke for Di Maria fire past Keto. Rooney then almost broke the crossbar with a thunderous long range effort but soon after the restart, the pressure told when Mata teed up van Persie to slot home against his former club. On the hour, the visitors suddenly hit back with an outrageous long range effort from Oxlade-Chamberlain. The fightback didn't materialise however as Rooney fired across Keto into the far corner in stoppage time to seal a huge three points.

Final Score - Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal

Di Maria (21), van Persie (47), Rooney (90+3) : Oxlade-Chamberlain (61)

Position - 1st

20th September 2014 - Premier League Match 5 - Chelsea v Man Utd

It was another massive early season encounter at Stamford Bridge as the league leaders came to town. And Chelsea took an early lead when Hazard crossed low to the near post for Cuadrado to sweep home for his first goal for the club. United almost hit back but found Cech in inspired form with a triple save from Mata and then two Valencia twice. The pressure did tell on the half hour though as van Persie spread the ball wide and the Dutch international met Rooney's cross perfectly into the roof of the net to level matters. On the stroke of halftime, Rooney went through on his own but he wastefully shot wide of the mark. Diego Costa struck the crossbar after the break as the hosts cranked the pressure. And they broke through late on when Costa sent Cuadrado through to smash through De Gea for his second goal. And in stoppage time, the three points were secured when Cuadrado returned the earlier favour for Costa curl home.

Final Score - Chelsea 3-1 Man Utd

Scorers - Cuadrado (8, 83), Costa (90+4) : van Persie (34)

Position - 1st

23rd September 2014 - Capital One Cup 3rd Round - West Brom v Man Utd

It was an old fashioned cup tie at the Hawthorns and the visitors should have been ahead early on when Rojo skied well over the bar from very close range. West Brom were bright with Berahino's pace causing alarms in the United defence. The England striker then forced De Gea into a good stop from point blank range before breaking the deadlock before the interval, stabbing home from Davidson's knockdown. This prompted wave after wave of attacks from United and van Persie's firm effort was brilliantly stopped by Foster. It looked like ending in a surprise result but the visitors hit back late on when Mata teed up Falcao and he sweeped into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club and a vital one. A really tense and cagey half hour of extra time followed and then onto penalties. It went all the way to 8-8 when until Wisdom missed leaving Shaw to strike the penalty home and send United through by the skin of their teeth.

Final Score - West Brom 1-1 Man Utd - (Man Utd win 9-8 on pens)

Scorers - Berahino (44) : Falcao (82)

Next Round - Derby (h)

28th September 2014 - Premier League Match 6 - Man Utd v Leicester

The league leaders were looking to bounce back from defeat but Rooney's glancing header was somehow kept out by Schmeichel. The hosts took the lead when Herrera passed across for Mata to sweep home with a wonderful strike. And four minutes later, Herrera with a belter of his own from 25 yards leaving Schmeichel with no chance. United were dominant now and just before the interval, they scored a third goal when van Persie's cross was forced home by Rooney's header at the far post. Into the second half and the hosts were rampant as van Persie was fouled in the area and Rooney brutally converted for his second goal of the match. On the hour mark, it was almost number five when Rooney crossed for Falcao but his header struck the crossbar. Leicester were hardly in the match from the first goal onwards and they were put out of their misery late on when Mata teed up Rooney for a fierce drive into the bottom corner for his hat-trick to keep United top of the table.

Final Score - Man Utd 5-0 Leicester

Scorers - Mata (15), Herrera (19), Rooney (39 pen, 54, 84)

Position - 1st

Manager Thoughts

"Apart from one result, it has been a good month from the players as they keep up their strong start to the season. As you will see soon, it is very tight at the top of the table so the players must know that they have to keep going as much as they can. I have been very encouraged by the performances against the top sides, despite the defeat at Stamford Bridge. The players did well to bounce back from that setback by getting the job done the hard way in the Cup but it was a great performance to finish the month on the right note. Another international break looms after the next game so it is paramount that we are consistent in our games next month."

Premier League Monthly Review - September 2014

Premier League Player of the Month - Gylfi Sigurdsson - (Swansea)

Premier League Manager of the Month - Sam Allardyce - (West Ham)