Man Utd’s miserable season ends in defeat to Cardiff as Mendez-Laing strikes twice at Old Trafford
A MISERABLE END to a miserable season for Manchester United.
Last week they drew with already relegated Huddersfield, now they have lost at home to already-relegated Cardiff.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing struck either side of half-time as the Bluebirds bow out of the Premier League with their heads held high.
The fact nobody in the ground was terribly surprised tells its own story.
It is fair to say the DVD of this campaign won’t be flying off the Old Trafford superstore shelves.
Indeed the feeling of gloom here is worse than it has been at any point since Sir Alex retired.
In United’s leading fanzine ‘United We Stand’ Editor Andy Mitten opened his editorial thus: “In almost 30 years of United We Stand, I don’t think I’ve ever sat down to write this editorial feeling as despondent about Manchester United as now.”
That is someone who is always looking for the positives as well!
You can understand him though.
They have just finished a Premier League season further behind the winners than they ever have before.
A full 32 points. In the previous five season going back to 2013/14 the gap has been 19, although at least they came second, 23, but they had two trophies to show for that 2016/17 season.
Then it was 15 points in 2016/16, but the FA Cup in hand, 17 in 2014/15 and 22 in 2013/14.
At no point in those post Sir Alex seasons however did they play as consistently poorly as they have in the final run-in of this campaign.
One that has brought just two wins in their final 12 games in all comps, and neither of them against West Ham and Watford were convincing.
A run of games that saw some players simply not try, and that is unforgiveable for any team.
When it is Manchester United, with it’s size and history it is even more unfathomable.
Anyone who leaves this season won’t be missed, not even David De Gea given his newly-found inability to stop long range shots.
Solskjaer made changes for today.
United’s front six all came through their academy in a clear message to established stars like Romelu Lukaku who was left out the starting line-up altogether with the injured Alexis Sanchez.
No sentimental places for Ander Herrea, Juan Mata or Antonio Valencia now their contracts are up and they are leaving. Although club captain Valencia would come on in the second-half.
Still there was only one ‘kid’ starting as Mason Greenwood at 17 years and 223 days old, became the club’s youngest ever player to take part in a Premier League game.
So there were no excuses, it was an experienced side in all.
Greenwood actually had their best chances, four of them in the first half, with wayward finishing a good goalkeeping from Neil Etheridge costing him.
It was poor refereeing at the other end that cost United when Cardiff went ahead after being awarded their 22nd minute penalty.
Nathanial Mendez-Laing completely missed his kick and then collided with the sliding Diogo Dalot but ref Jon Moss pointed to the spot and the same Cardiff player got up and sent David De Gea the wrong way.
The 1-0 half time score in Cardiff’s favours triggered a smattering of boos around the stadium as the half-time whistle went. It was only the fourth time in the league this season that they have lead at the break.
It got worse for United just nine minutes after the restart.
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Scott McTominay had been moved into centre back with Anthony Martial on for Phil Jones and when he missed his kick Josh Murphy was in to square the ball for Mendez-Laing to get his second.
United fans just looked on in dumbfounded silence, what on earth are they witnessing?
There was one point in the second-half when Chris Smalling fell over backwards with nobody near him and people laughed. It seemed to just suit the occasion.