Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's contrasting reactions show the difference in Manchester United win

Having conceded from three set pieces last week, Manchester United scored from one this week.

The whole dugout leapt from their seats to greet Rasmus Hojlund’s 88th-minute winner from a cute Bruno Fernandes pass. Carlos Fernandes, Ruben Amorim’s assistant tasked with overseeing dead-ball kicks, has cause to be pleased with himself.

Amorim barely celebrated Hojlund's winner but this was a personal victory for the head coach. This was the first game he had a profound impact through in-game changes and it earned United a first European away win since March 2023.

The temperature plunged to -3 in Plzen and on a night when some United players froze, they eventually warmed up. Hojlund, Mason Mount and Antony upped the tempo after a drab first hour.

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Hojlund's clincher was so worthy of celebration that Andre Onana dashed the length of the pitch to join the throng. Nobody will have been more relieved than Onana after his error gifted Plzen an early second-half advantage but this was also a significant win for United - only their second away from home this season.

Amorim, ever present in the technical area, was more intense than some of the players he selected on the pitch. Seven of United's outfield players had gloves on and the lethargy on show jarred with the demands of a head coach who is gradually sussing out some of the mediocrity that he has inherited.

The United coach often turned to the dugout and lamented the decision-making in a first half where United had one shot on target that came in the 31st minute. Amorim's refusal to countenance such lowly standards has elevated United into the top eight