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Manchester United Under-21s rounded off their National League Cup campaign with a disappointing 3-0 loss to Tamworth this evening.
Here are our player ratings for the match. Read the detailed match report of all the action here.
(A score of 6 is around average.)
Ratings
Will Murdock – 6 – Made a couple of good saves and couldn’t do much for the goals conceded. Was very composed with the ball at his feet and executed a Cruyff turn to turn out of pressure more than once.
Yuel Helafu – 7 – United’s best player on the night, he was comfortable defending and in possession. His runs infield helped open space and inject some tempo to United’s lifeless possession at times. He linked-up particularly well with Mantato when he came off the bench.
Dan Armer – 4 – Struggled in the key moments for pace and strength. Was held off to easily for the first goal, not putting in a challenge from the corner. One the second goal he was beaten for pace and his failure to clear his lines led to the third. A good learning experience for the 17 year old against experienced opposition.
Godwill Kukonki – 4.5 – Looked nervous in possession and was rash with his decision making, including tackling his own teammates at times.
Diego Leon – 6 – Was one of the more involved United players in the first half, getting on the ball often and doing the basics well. But he couldn’t make a difference in the final third apart from some wild shots from long range.
Jacob Devaney – 6 – Made some good tackles in midfield and did well to slot back into centre-back for the second half.
Sekou Kone – 6 – Back from injury and he did well to slot into midfield and look comfortable. Played a key part in United’s dominance in possession but often provided the safe option rather than looking to change the game.
Malachi Sharpe – 5 – Looked like he could cause some trouble with his pace a couple of times but ultimately created little of note in his first appearance of the season.
Tyler Fletcher – 5 – Struggled in the first half in a more advanced midfield role to find his positioning. Left United light in attack and his poor touch led to Tamworth’s second goal.
Sam Mather – 4.5 – Isolated his full-back on a number of occasions but did not beat him once, opting to cutback onto his right and pass backwards. He was a key culprit to United’s lack of cutting edge in attack with his choice to always slow the play down.
Gabriele Biancheri – 6 – Had a really good effort on goal that went just wide of the left post and did well with his hold-up play, but often cut an isolated figure in a one man press.
Substitutes
James Scanlon – 6 – Came on in the 10 position and helped United find some openings in the half spaces centrally before feeding it to the wingers.
Bendito Mantato – 6.5 – United’s best attacker on the night, his pace and trickery opened up spaces around the area that United struggled to do throughout. But despite getting into a lot of good positions, he was often unable to find a teammate in the area.
Chido Obi – 5.5 – Had a couple of speculative efforts from long range but didn’t manage to get involved much off the bench.
Jaydan Kamason – 6 – Came close to pulling off a spectacular goal with an effort that flew just over the bar and linked-up well with Mantato.
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