Fred and Anthony Elanga inspire Manchester United to galvanising victory

As Manchester United finally scored from a corner, they may have turned one. Even as they showed familiar flaws, losing a lead and their way, they recovered to prevail in an extraordinary game. Their reward is a four-point cushion in fourth place after what may rank as Ralf Rangnick’s best win to date.

“It was important not only we won but the way we reacted to conceding the equaliser,” said the interim manager. “It was the best possible answer, perfect in regards of maturity and unity.” He is entitled to feel he was a gamechanger.

A double substitution introduced two goalscorers, and five of his replacements have already struck in his brief reign. Fred and Anthony Elanga transformed a disappointing draw into a 4-2 galvanising victory against Leeds on Sunday.

“I didn’t bring them on to score goals,” Rangnick admitted. “It was about getting more energy into the team.”

His decision to replace the excellent Paul Pogba with Fred veered from the contentious to the inspired within three minutes. Fred looped a run around Jadon Sancho to complete a one-two and then rifled in a shot from an angle.

If Fred has been one of the beneficiaries of the interim manager’s arrival, Sancho has been another, and he ended with two assists.

Elanga was struck by an object thrown from the crowd as he celebrated United’s third goal. Crowd trouble was sadly predictable in this fixture but, given Leeds’ chequered disciplinary record, they should expect sanctions.

Elanga nevertheless constructed the ideal response, side-footing in United’s fourth after Bruno Fernandes robbed Pascal Struijk.

Ill-feeling abounded. Scott McTominay somehow escaped a red card for a litany of offences, starting with a challenge on Robin Koch that left the Leeds man