Manchester United vs Rangers: UEFA Europa League report, reaction & stats

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure victory over Rangers in their British derby at Old Trafford. Rangers fans had been celebrating Cyriel Dessers' 88th-minute thunderbolt from the edge of the box, which had leveled the score and they thought secured a historic point.

However, Fernandes met a cross from Lisandro Martinez at the far post with a low shot that went through Jack Butland to end the Rangers celebrations. Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United legend and former Rangers striker, watching from the directors' box, could only shake his head at the drama. At least the ending ensured the game would not only be remembered for Butland's poor own goal, when he turned a Christian Eriksen corner into his own net in the 52nd minute.

Manchester United showed their resilience just four days after manager Ruben Amorim called them “possibly the worst Manchester United team in history.” For Rangers, it was a cruel end as their away winless run continued since December 8th. They dropped to 13th in the playoff spots and need to beat Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise at home next week, and hope other results go their way, to secure direct qualification to the last 16. However, they have already secured a spot in the knockout stages. Fourth-placed Manchester United will also be sure of a place in the last 16 if they can win away against Romanian side Steaua Bucharest.

The game had been set to be a low-key victory, after Amorim’s controversial comments at the weekend caused a stir, and his attempt to clarify them on Wednesday was “not an apology”, until the final few frantic minutes. The Manchester United manager repeated his familiar refrain that his team must “suffer” as they adapt to his tactics. An example was the failure to fill the space left when one of United’s three defenders left the line to press or challenge a dropping forward. Young midfielder Toby Collyer, making his first start under Amorim, reacted in time to stop one attack, but unless that reaction becomes instinctive, United are still vulnerable to being caught out. Nicolas Raskin had one such chance to go through on Altai Bayindir, but failed to control the ball, allowing the Turkish goalkeeper to save, before Ridvan Yilmaz shot over.

United have not been able to do enough of this kind of basic training, having had so many midweek games since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November. That is why finishing in the top eight in this competition is so important, because it would mean no second game in three consecutive weeks in early February to crowd the schedule. But they can’t take that for granted yet. Steaua Bucharest are also in the top eight and will not want to give up their place next week. Amorim also knows there is much work to do off the pitch in the next 12 days before the transfer window closes, with the futures of many of his stars, including Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, in doubt, and funds needed to refresh his squad. However, thanks to Fernandes, at least they can take some of the huge pressure off themselves in the next few days.

Given that no Scottish team has ever won at Old Trafford, and that Rangers had failed to score in their previous two visits, their fans, who were kept inside the stadium after the game for safety reasons, did not seem too downhearted by the result. They are acutely aware of the huge financial disparity between the Premier League and the Scottish Old Firm. Still, there were plenty of positives for Rangers. In addition to Raskin’s early chance, Dessers also hit a post late on, although TV replays suggested the Nigerian may have been slightly offside. Hamza Igamane ran tirelessly up front and created a chance for Jefte to shoot straight at Bayindir, and 18-year-old Findlay Curtis also tested the United goalkeeper. But when James Tavernier’s long ball over the home defense found Dessers, who got away from Harry Maguire and finished superbly, it looked like Rangers would definitely be taking back a great story for their supporters to tell on their trip back to Glasgow. Unfortunately for them, Fernandes had other ideas.