What Manchester United players did after Newport equaliser spoke volumes

Leadership vacuum

For half an hour Manchester United were cruising at Rodney Parade. Their team of internationals were showcasing their talents, knocking the ball around in style and generally running their League Two opponents ragged. Then, they just imploded.

The first goal had an element of good fortune to it but the second was far too easy, an absence of any kind of pressure from midfield allowing Newport to knock it around easily and Adam Lewis’ run forward down the left went untracked by Antony. His switch-off was punished when Will Evans got across the front of Raphael Varane to equalise.

It was a staggering turn of events given the total control United had exerted on the game and now they were back to a team of individuals. Nobody spoke as Evans celebrated, they slumped back to their positions in their own thoughts.

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At a time when United needed someone to take control of the situation, their leadership vacuum was exposed again. Bruno Fernandes pulled the strings superbly in the first half, but where was he now? Their brittle confidence levels were clear to see in the aftermath of the shock equaliser.

For the next 15 minutes, United played like a rattled football team. It summed their season up.

A tale of two Brazilians

This was Casemiro’s first appearance for United in nearly three months so maybe it’s understandable there has been a bit of rust there, but then there was plenty of rust on show before his injury as well.

He was sluggish against League Two opposition in south Wales and looks a shadow of the player who was so dominant in his first season at the club. His second-half booking was for a rash, late