What Manchester United did after Sheffield United equaliser that helped secure win

Defender Harry Maguire admitted Sheffield United's formation caught Manchester United by surprise following their 2-1 win at Bramall Lane on Saturday evening.

Goals either side of an Oli McBurnie penalty from Scott McTominay and Diogo Dalot sealed a hard-fought victory for the Reds, who paid tribute to club legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who died at the age of 86 on Saturday morning, ahead of kick-off. Dalot bent home a terrific 77th-minute winner to seal a second successive win.

United, though they were the better side in the second half, had to work hard to find a way through, struggling to unlock a four-man Blades defence. The home side were forced into a tactical rejig to combat the number of defensive injuries manager Paul Heckingbottom is currently having to contend with.

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And it was the Blades' change in shape, with them having been renowned for playing a back-three over the last few years, that Maguire thought was behind United's slow start to the contest. However, he felt they got to grips with it once McBurnie had brought the home side level just past the half-hour mark.

Maguire, a former Blades defender, told Sky Sports: "I knew coming here, as I reiterated to the lads before the game, that it was going to be tough, especially in the first 20 minutes. I thought they were the better team in the first 20 minutes.

"They caught us by surprise with the way that they were playing and the formation they were playing. But I felt like we adapted to it after they got the equaliser, and I think in the second half we were in real control of the game.

"We had a lot of chances and obviously hit