Ruben Amorim oversaw his first game in charge of Manchester United, being forced to settle for a point against newly promoted Ipswich Town. The perfect start was made by the visitors, striking just 81 seconds in, thanks to Marcus Rashford. However, persistence from Kieran Mckenna’s men was rewarded in the 43rd minute, when Omari Hutchison curled in a stunner to draw his side level.
A draw was probably a fair result and a reflective outcome of the game, with neither side able to convert their chances to take all three points. Ipswich’s wait for a first Premier League win at Portman Road goes on, while Manchester United remain unbeaten since the departure of Erik ten Haag.
As it happened
It was a new look for Manchester United, lining up in a back three, as Diego Dalot and Amad Diallo operated in the wing back roles. Amorim wasted no time making an impact, as his side took the lead inside 90 seconds. A ruthless counter-attack from the visitors saw Amad tee up Marcus Rashford, who, despite his recent struggles, bundled it in with his first touch of the game. It was a dream start to life in England for the Portuguese boss.
Embed from Getty ImagesIpswich responded well to falling behind early on, with Omari Hutchison and Sammie Szmodics at the heart of the chances. One of those moments called André Onana into action, being forced into denying a low powerful effort by Szmodics, with the Cameroonian’s firm hand taking the sting out of the strike.
The visitors looked exciting going forward, posing a threat every time they moved into the final third. Alejandro Garnacho nearly found the far corner with his trademark strike after shifting it onto his right foot, leaving Arijanet Muric worried as the Argentinian’s effort whipped just wide of the post. It was end-to-end stuff at Portman Road, with the home crowd getting behind their side in hope of a response to the early blow.
Despite the Red Devils looking positive when going forward, their defensive vulnerabilities were still evident, with Ipswich not short of chances in the first period. Hutchison had the latest effort on goal, with Dalot in the way to block the effort. Amorim wasn’t shy of showing his feelings on the touchline as Ipswich began to gain some momentum, with United’s slender lead in danger.
A golden opportunity arose for Liam Delap, and Ipswich should have made it 1-1. It was the man that all Ipswich fans would have put their house on him to find the back of the net, but somehow Onana kept it out. Szmodics was making things happen once more, this time threading a perfect ball into the box for the oncoming Delap to meet. The former Hull City striker took it first time, with the outstretched hand of the Manchester United keeper producing an astonishing save to keep it out.
Ipswich finally found a deserved equaliser, with this chance a lot more difficult than the other one, but the Tractor Boys wouldn’t care about that; it was a moment of magic from Hutchinson. After finding space on the edge of the box, the summer signing let leash, curling a beauty into the far top corner to level the scoring. The strike did take a minor nick on the way in off Noussair Mazraoui, potentially putting it out of reach of the Onana.
Embed from Getty ImagesAn eventful first half came to an end, with Hutchison’s leveller cancelling out Rashford’s early strike. From the moment the visitors took the lead, there only looked to be really one team that were going to score, with Ipswich finally rewarded late on in the half.
Manchester United were close to finding the back of the net early on in the half yet again, with Garnacho having the chance to put his side back ahead. An intricate ball from Bruno Fernandes was met by the winger, with the goalkeeper getting down low to his left-hand side to deny Garnacho from finding the far bottom corner; nearly a moment of Déjà vu for the visitors.
A swift move once again from Ipswich saw another chance fall to the feet of Delap. Wes Burn’s cross was met at the front post by Delap, with Onana denying his delicate flick from point-blank range. Down the other end, Garnacho bore down on goal with Rashford in support, but a perfectly-timed last-ditch challenge by Jens-Lys Cajuste put the ball out for a corner. The tackle had to be right, and it was. It was an excellent piece of defending from the Swedish international.
Amorim wasn’t going to settle for a draw in his first game in charge without a fight, with Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee introduced into the action. Chances continued to fall the way of Delap, this time with the centre-forward letting fly from range and seeing his effort go narrowly over the bar.
Fernandes was a whisker away from grabbing the headline and finding the winning goal. After winning a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, the Portuguese international sent his free kick up and over the wall, bending just a little too much and flying just wide of the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesIpswich were in search of a winner themselves, with Onana to Manchester United’s rescue once again. Jack Clarke kept the move alive after a cross from the right hand-side was overhit, cutting it back to Conor Chaplin, who was unable to generate any power, with Onana getting down to collect.
After a lively end to the clash, with both sides having chances to steal all three points, the four minutes of stoppage time came to an end. Ipswich picked up an invaluable point, whilst Amorim got his first taste of English football with an away draw. It was something to build on for the new manager, even if three points were expected.
The lineups
IPS: Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap.
MUN: Onana; Dalot, Evans, De Ligt; Amad, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mazraoui; Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.