Bruno Fernandes powers Manchester United to easy victory over Leicester | first division

Eleven days after Manchester United Leicester defeated With Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Carabao Cup here, the interim manager recorded another easy victory over the Foxes and thus ends his four-match unbeaten tenure.

In total, the Dutchman has three wins, and for this one he could thank Bruno Fernandes, who made his 250th appearance for United by scoring the first goal and causing enough problems for the hapless Victor Kristiansen to beat his goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, for the second. .

Fernandes' goal was the fourth of Van Nistelrooy's brief reign after a clean sheet for Erik ten Hag in the captain's previous 17 games, a streak stretching back to April. Ten Hag has been replaced by Rúben Amorim, whose opening day as new head coach will be on Monday, as United hope their latest restart is finally the right one.

Fernandes said: “I haven't scored for a long time and now goals are coming in the last few games.”

In an unsurprising move, Van Nistelrooy's only change from the XI that drew with Chelsea last Sunday was finding a place for Amad Diallo's explosive aggression (Alejandro Garnacho was the scapegoat) and his lunge had the visitors on their heels. heels at all times.

A dart dragged the 22-year-old deep into Leicester territory and caused Abdul Fatawu to take him down. Fernandes got Casemiro's free-kick right but the visitors cleared.

United surrounded Leicester. Any attack was on the counterattack, like when Fatawu attacked Casemiro and the ball went to Wilfred Ndidi, but the home team escaped.

The first of Diallo's double on Thursday 2-0 Europa League victory over Paok It was a clever header and here United tried to repeat it. Marcus Rashford dropped the ball from the left towards the far post where Diallo was lurking, but Kristiansen headed in.

The Leicester defender had the surprise in Fernandes' first goal. With his team on the attack, a long United clearance made Kristiansen hesitate: fatal if Diallo gets close. He was, he took the ball and made a turbo run towards the goal. The ball went out for a throw-in and, once again, Diallo starred. Noussair Mazraoui found Fernandes, who passed the ball to Diallo. Seemingly casual, the Ivorian fooled Steve Cooper's team and allowed a moment of brilliance: the backheel to Fernandes, who leaped forward and formed a peach curler that beat Hermansen into his bottom left corner.

United were ecstatic, the goalkeeper was furious with those sleeping in front of him, understandably. These emotions soon almost tip over. Ndidi was not followed and ran behind, Facundo Buonanotte missed, but the winger could not beat André Onana at close range.

Cue an attack by Van Nistelrooy in the absence of a runner with Ndidi. Overall, however, United were like a boxer ahead on points who kept the opposing pugilist at arm's length with his jab: of this, Harry Winks' effort was emblematic.

But the gaps in midfield remained in rapid transition, so Winks' pass to Buonanotte left United struggling and Mazraoui appeared to bring him down. This occurred on the edge of the area, but Peter Bankes did not award a penalty or free kick, sparking the anger of the fans.

Next they had to swallow a much bitter pill, in what was a calamity of errors on the part of those in blue. Mazraoui's aerial shot was comically missed by Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes, and Kristiansen's nightmare continued when the ball bounced off the marauding Fernandes' thigh and bounced off the defender for an own goal and 2-0. Half ended with Diallo, who else? – opened a hole in Leicester and fired, although the sharp Hermansen parried his effort.

Could United close this? Not being able to close the deal has been one of their biggest mistakes. Manuel Ugarte was a dynamo of fire who did everything possible to make it happen. Buonanotte's free-kick near the United defense was due to this enthusiasm, but Leicester's hacking of the dead ball left him free.

In the 57th minute, Van Nistelrooy removed a disappointing Rashford for Garnacho and Diogo Dalot for Jonny Evans (perhaps due to a knock), Lisandro Martínez moved to left back and Mazraoui to right back.

After an ankle clip that required treatment, Martinez fed Garnacho, but he ran into a dead end near the left corner flag and James Justin cleaned him out. The winger did exactly the same after Ugarte's glorious left-footed parabola from 40 meters cleared him. When Garnacho reached the area, he missed a cutback on Faes, who fell.

But the 20-year-old had the last and loudest laugh thanks to his seventh goal of the campaign created by a curling pass from Fernandes and finished off by an arrow from the winger that left Hermansen little chance.

Their celebration was silent. Fernandes said: “Garnacho scored a goal but he didn't celebrate it as he should because he believes he has lost the faith of some fans. I told him, 'People will always complain, but a lot of people like you and enjoy what you do.'”