Bruno Fernandes fires Man Utd to gritty victory over Ipswich

Ruben Amorim's men showed resilience, overcoming a disastrous start and a red card to secure three vital points in a thrilling Premier League clash.

The game exploded into life early when a mix-up between Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana handed Ipswich the lead after just four minutes. Jaden Philogene pounced on the error, slotting home to stun the home crowd.

United clawed their way back, levelling through an own goal from Sam Morsy off Fernandes' wicked free-kick. Soon after, another set-piece saw Matthijs de Ligt bundle in a second, giving the hosts a lifeline.

Disaster struck before the break, though. Dorgu, already culpable for the opener, saw red for a reckless high challenge, leaving United with 10 men.

Ipswich wasted no time, as Philogene struck againâ”his cross sneaking past Onana to make it 2-2 at the interval. The United keeper's shaky night drew scrutiny, but his side refused to buckle.

Two minutes into the second half, Fernandes turned provider once more. His pinpoint corner found Harry Maguire, whose towering header restored United's lead. From there, the Red Devils dug deep, repelling wave after wave of Ipswich pressure to cling on for the win.

Speaking after the match, Fernandes admitted the team have struggled to adapt to Amorim's methods this season. "We've been suffering, we know that. We haven't been at our best," he said. "But when you win, you get more confidence and you get braver. Hopefully, in the next few games, we'll score more and show more."

Reflecting on the tactical shift under Amorim, Fernandes added: "Me and Harry have been here a whileâ”we know we have to stick to what we're doing in training. Sometimes it's not working, but the manager wants us to play this way. The staff watch countless games and put in the work. We just have to step up, show more courage, and let our quality shine."

The victory marked United's third straight home win over Ipswich this season across all competitions, a rare bright spot in a campaign of ups and downs. For Ipswich, it was a sixth defeat in seven league outings, leaving them five points adrift of safety.

An X update from Manchester United praised Fernandes' leadership, with the club posting: "Bruno's set-pieces were the difference tonightâ”captain fantastic."

Meanwhile, Amorim has echoed his skipper's call for bravery, telling reporters post-match: "We have the tools; now we must use them without fear."

For United fans, this gritty display could signal a turning pointâ”if their talisman's rallying cry is heeded.

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