Man United 2-1 Chelsea: Scott McTominay scores brace as under-pressure Erik ten Hag secures crucial win to see his side go within three points of fourth

Marcus Rashford on the bench and Scott McTominay their top scorer in the Premier League. That may well sum up Manchester United’s season under Erik ten Hag but for now the Dutchman will not care.

This was a big win for United and their teetering manager. United were never secure and continue to look desperately vulnerable when they don’t have the ball.

But against a Chelsea team who continue to labour under the weight of their own problems, they were more than good enough to come through this game and once again quell the rising tide of fear and loathing lapping at the gates of what used to be fortress Old Trafford.

With young Alejandro Garnacho their best player and McTominay — who United would have happily sold in the summer — a growing source of consistency and steady measure in the centre of the field, United were an enterprising force with the ball. So too were Chelsea. Both teams left too many holes where there shouldn’t be any.

But United were the better side on balance and even coped with an early penalty miss by Bruno Fernandes to take a first-half lead through McTominay’s 14-yard shot. Chelsea levelled through former Manchester City graduate Cole Palmer just before half-time and looked for the early stages of the second period as though they may take control of the game.

Scott McTominay scored a brace to take his tally for the season in all competition to six goals

United moved up to sixth with the victory and are just three points off Man City in fourth

It was a huge result for the under-pressure Erik ten Hag after United’s recent performances

United, however, showed some depth of character and were on top again by the time McTominay headed in a Garnacho cross at the far post with 21 minutes left.

United were without the two perceived miscreants of St James’ Park, where Ten Hag’s team had lost 1-0 at the weekend. Rashford and Anthony Martial were on the bench here.

What United had in their absence was some energy and some forward thrust. They were out of the blocks fast against a Chelsea team who seemed intent on opening their defensive doors as wide as possible. If Ten Hag has struggled to move United forward this season then Mauricio Pochettino has struggled similarly at Chelsea. The Argentine’s excuse, one supposes, is that this is his first season.

Here Chelsea were wretched out of possession and United were not an awful lot better. So this meant we had an extraordinarily open game that could easily have been 4-4 at half-time. Instead it was 1-1, thanks to goals from McTominay and then, just before first-half added time, the admirable Chelsea midfielder Palmer.

United could have scored very early indeed as Garnacho drew a low save from Robert Sanchez and Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella cleared a dangerous cross from his near post. Then, in just the sixth minute, Enzo Fernandez left a lazy foot in on a challenge with Antony and a swift VAR intervention led to a penalty. Old Trafford was expectant but Fernandes couldn’t deliver. The save to his left from Sanchez was a sharp one but the penalty was a yard inside the post and therefore within reach.

This is the kind of thing that can derail an anxious side but United kept coming. As Chelsea surrendered possession routinely in dreadful areas, United rolled forwards but at the same time the London club had started to counter with just as much menace.

Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty on nine minutes when Robert Sanchez saved his spot kick

Enzo Fernandez was adjudged to have fouled Antony after Chris Kavanagh went to the screen

It was a disastrous start but the Portuguese star didn’t let it impact upon his performance

McTominay opened the scoring when he fired home on the rebound with his left foot

Eventually, in the 19th minute, United scored. An overlap down the left allowed Garnacho to cross for Harry Maguire. His shot was blocked but when the ball found its way to McTominay, the Scot buried his shot low in to the corner. Once again, it must be noted, Chelsea had given the ball away 30 yards from goal. On this occasion the culprit was the underwhelming midfielder Moises Caicedo.

United were buoyant and pushed for another goal. McTominay was denied at point-blank range by Sanchez as Fernandes dropped a lovely cross on his head and, without knowing all that much about it, the Chelsea goalkeeper then saved the follow-up from the same player.

Had that one gone in, Chelsea may have crumbled. As it was they continued to make their own forays and indeed continued to find new ways not to score.

Raheem Sterling broke free down the left in the 36th minute and may have shot himself. Instead he passed square to Nicolas Jackson and United goalkeeper Andre Onana dashed out to save. Another United error then allowed Mudryk to steal in but he dragged his shot wide when he possibly should have shot across the goalkeeper.

Cole Palmer continued his fine form as he equalised just before half time with a smart finish

But McTominay restored United’s lead as he headed home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross

Mykhailo Mudryk hit the post in the first half, but the Blues went down to another away defeat

Marcus Rashford was dropped by Erik ten Hag after his dismal showing against Newcastle

The Ukrainian’s next contribution was better. He found space in midfield to play Palmer through and the recent England debutant controlled the pass perfectly to confront three United defenders and shoot low across Onana and into the far corner.

United had mustered 14 shots by this stage but for a while in the second half Chelsea looked the more likely to score again. Palmer was now the dominant force in the game, his runs and his passing stretching a United midfield that was struggling for legs.

Ten Hag’s team were not finished, though. Garnacho, their best attacking player, curled a shot wide from the left angle of the area while Antony saw one take a huge deflection and drift narrowly wide.

Both sides looked short of a central striker. Jackson continues to look desperately raw for Chelsea while at the other end Rasmus Hojland did not look anywhere near match sharp after a debut United season blighted by injuries. Indeed it was a cross from Garnacho that may well have been intended for Hojlund that was headed in by McTominay with 21 minutes left. The VAR team briefly checked for a foul as Levi Colwill fell under pressure from McTominay but it was never a foul.