Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed the performances of Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw after his team’s impressive 2-0 win at Manchester City in Sunday’s Derby.
French forward Martial has struggled for large parts of this season and dropped down the pecking order behind Edinson Cavani but with the Uruguayan ruled out, Solskjaer asked the 25-year-old to lead the line, even though he too had faced a fitness test.
“Anthony Martial was man of the match. That was the Anthony we know, strong positive and taking players on. Delighted for him,” said Solskjaer.
“Until two hours before warm-up I wasn’t sure if he’d play. Today he rediscovered himself.”
It was Martial who was brought down after 34 seconds to earn United a penalty and he caused City problems throughout with his strong running and sharp movement. Shaw contributed to a solid defensive unit but also got forward down the left flank.
It was his surging run and then precise finish that made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. “The second goal was magnificent. He was a massive doubt this morning and had to go through a fitness test to play. What a performance,” said Solskjaer.
Spurs feat
Tottenham Hotspur became only the second club in one of Europe’s big five leagues to reach 100 goals in all competitions this season after a 4-1 defeat of Crystal Palace on Sunday, giving manager Jose Mourinho a chance to have a dig at his critics.
Until the current three-match winning run in the Premier League, Tottenham were sliding down the table with Mourinho’s tactics coming under scrutiny. But a 4-0 victory over Burnley last weekend and Sunday’s defeat of Palace in which Harry Kane and Gareth Bale combined in stunning fashion with two goals each has put Tottenham back into sixth spot and in contention for a top-four place.
EPL result
• Tottenham 4 Palace 1
• Chelsea - Everton -