For a brief moment on a grim night at Old Trafford, it seemed as though Ruben Amorim might be the next casualty in Manchester United’s ongoing turmoil. Trailing third-from-bottom Ipswich Town, the gap to the relegation zone shrank dangerously close to 10 points, manifesting Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s worst fears.
Amid a week of grim news about layoffs intended to bolster the first team’s finances, this match underscored just how far United has fallen. Yet, even in these dire circumstances, Bruno Fernandes consistently proved to be a lifeline. The Portuguese playmaker, though not universally adored, rose to the occasion, salvaging United from yet another self-created crisis.
Fernandes contributed to three goals from set-pieces, marking an impressive involvement in the last six scored by his team. But, true to United’s unpredictable nature, it wasn’t straightforward. After a shocking defensive blunder led to an opening goal for Ipswich, new signing Patrick Dorgu received a red card just before halftime for a reckless challenge on Omari Hutchinson.
United initially gifted Ipswich the lead within four minutes due to a catastrophic mix-up in defense. Dorgu and Jaden Philogene chased a long ball, but neither seemed to communicate effectively. Dorgu touched the ball past goalkeeper Andre Onana, allowing Philogene an easy tap-in. Amorim, watching in disbelief, must have felt the optimism from Marcus Rashford’s early goal in their previous encounter against Ipswich slip away.
“Everybody thought, ‘here we go again,’” Amorim remarked after the match. However, United managed to rally, with Fernandes’s set-piece expertise coming to the fore once more. In the 22nd minute, he delivered a free-kick that deflected off Ipswich captain Sam Morsy and into the net, leveling the score.
Just four minutes later, United took the lead. After a scramble in the box, Matthijs de Ligt pounced on a loose ball to fire into the roof of the net. But the drama was far from over. Dorgu, after receiving a red card for a reckless tackle on Hutchinson, compounded his misfortune by delivering a brutal challenge in return.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna confirmed the severity of the situation, noting the damage to Hutchinson’s shin, while VAR reviewed Dorgu’s tackle. Referee Darren England was directed to the pitchside monitor, leading to Dorgu’s dismissal.
Amorim’s decision to substitute Alejandro Garnacho for Noussair Mazraoui raised eyebrows, especially since Garnacho had been one of United’s most threatening players. Despite the controversies and challenges, the narrow victory lifted Amorim’s side above Everton in the league, landing them in 14th position, but questions about their future loom large.
