Бруно Фернандешийн хет-трик Манчестер Юнайтедыг Ипсвич Тауны эсрэг ялалтад хөтөллөө

Bruno Fernandes starred with a hat-trick (and almost scored from the halfway line) as Manchester United came from a goal down to hammer Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford starting his first Premier League game for United since December 2024 was the talk beforehand, while Kobbie Mainoo also impressed in the midfield, but it was the Portuguese international’s goals that made the difference.

Michael Carrick’s side had lost on the opening weekend to Hull City, who were promoted alongside Ipswich last season, and they went behind on the half-hour through a Leif Davis goal. Ipswich did well to pressurise United and create chances, but it was through Fernandes’ three goals, one a penalty, plus a controversial own-goal involving Harry Maguire that sealed the three points.

Bryan Mbeumo made up for a miss from a few yards out to add a fifth late on before Chuba Akpom got a second for Ipswich.

There are still areas of concern, most notably at left-back, for Carrick, but this is the first time United had scored five goals in a Premier League game since August 2021 against Leeds, a match in which Fernandes also scored a hat-trick.

Chris McKenna, Tim Spiers and Graham Scott break down the talking points.

How good was Fernandes?

Priceless. There was a release clause — which has now expired — of £57million ($77.2m) in Fernandes’ contract, which could have been triggered by clubs from abroad earlier in the summer.

If anyone had done that and somehow convinced the club captain to leave, it would have been daylight robbery.

Fernandes picked up the PFA Player of the Year award earlier this week to add to his FWA and Premier League individual honours for his performances last season. And this was a display which will have United hoping he is on for another spectacular year.

Fernandes was subdued in last weekend’s surprise defeat by Hull, but when United needed him here, he stood up and delivered a leader’s performance.

His opening goal was a gift after a mistake from Ipswich, but it was still a fine finish to equalise.

Having missed two penalties in pre-season, there was maybe a bit of pressure on the second-half spot kick that made it 3-1, but he didn’t fall for the mind games from goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and sent him the wrong way.

The third was a tidy finish to wrap up the hat-trick and the points. He added a late assist with a sublime pass to Mbeumo for the fifth.

Chris McKenna

Why was the own goal allowed after Maguire’s handball?

I understand why Ipswich will feel aggrieved. The ball obviously strikes Maguire’s arm as it bounces up towards his chest and appears to be played against him at close range by Akpom.

His arms are in the position you would expect in the circumstances — raised to offer protection — and in line with his body. But the question is whether he scores ‘immediately’, because even an accidental handball should be penalised if so.

He takes two touches before shooting with his third, during which time Ipswich defenders have the chance to close him down. I’d say the goal should have stood even if Maguire’s shot had gone straight in, but in this case it was definitely valid because his effort was going wide before being deflected into his own net by Jacob Greaves.

The accidental handball rule only applies to the scorer, so United were in the clear.

#MUNIPS – 56’

The referee’s call of goal for Manchester United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Maguire was not the immediate goalscorer after an accidental handball.

VAR: “It’s an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you…

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 30, 2026

Graham Scott

What was Rashford’s performance like?

There was a moment early in the first half when Rashford lost possession after trying some trickery, but he rushed back and slid in to regain the ball.

It brought a big roar from the home crowd. The fans want to see his attacking threat, but they also want to see that he is willing to run off the ball too and prove that he cares about playing for United again after previously making his intentions clear about joining Barcelona, where he spent last season on loan.

Rashford’s crossing was excellent throughout — the pick of the bunch was a first-time ball when he stretched to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross-field pass. He was denied a brilliant assist as Mbeumo somehow diverted it onto the crossbar from little more than a yard out.

(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

He also had some promising link-up play with Luke Shaw down the left, and came so close to a goal when his volley was pushed away brilliantly by Scherpen after he met a superb Dalot cross first time.

A very good return to Old Trafford.

Chris McKenna

How did Mbeumo miss that?

Mbeumo disconsolately and sheepishly looked down at his boots as he searched for a possible reason as to how he had just produced one of the worst misses of his career. Laces undone? Big toe sticking out?

Sadly, there was nobody to blame but himself — especially considering he’d used his knee to try to score — after Rashford had expertly steered a volley across the face of goal for him to surely score from all of two yards.

Rashford’s brilliant pass put the ball on a plate but Mbeumo got his bearings all wrong, going with neither his head nor his right foot, instead uncomfortably kneeing it against the bar with nothing but the net in front of him.

Fortunately for Mbeumo, and United, it didn’t prove costly; the score was 1-1 at the time, but three minutes later the home side were in front to stay. However, that embarrassing moment will be played on ‘worst-ever misses in football’ compilations ad infinitum.

At least he partially made up for it with a late finish to make it 5-1.

Tim Spiers

Should Carrick be concerned by his defence?

There has been talk all summer about how United need to bring in another left-back to provide cover for Shaw, given the injury record of the England international.

But there is also an argument that it is time they brought in a player at that position to improve on someone who has been at the club for over a decade.

Shaw, 31, was too easily beaten by Abdul Fatawu in the lead-up to Ipswich’s opening goal; first for strength and then also for pace.

Luke Shaw was tested by Ipswich’s forward line (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

It wasn’t a goal where any United defender really covered themselves in glory and that’s now three conceded in two games against two of the division’s newly-promoted teams to begin the season.

If United are building towards being a title-winning team again one day, the back line needs to be improved. The foundation of any championship side is the defence. At least it was another strong performance from goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Without him, they may have conceded more.

Chris McKenna

What did Carrick say?

Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, the United head coach said: “It was a good win. A really good win in the end. We played some really good football. The biggest thing today was the mentality of the boys to overcome setbacks. We’re going to have them and it depends on how you deal with them. I was really pleased with that. It’s easy to look at the result, but the mentality and the stubbornness really pleased me. We controlled the game pretty well for the most part. A lot of our play was looking on the way to how we wanted it to look. The boys took it on really well and we were fabulous.

“There were a lot of positives, with and without the ball, but it’s the whole mentality; dealing with it and trusting each other. Last week didn’t go for us and we accept that. Today was a lot better. We’re not getting carried away. We were down last week but everything wasn’t wrong. We can still get better, we haven’t cracked it. We’ll get ready for the next game.”

What’s next for United?

Sunday, September 6: Everton (Away), Premier League, 2pm UK, 9am ET