5 Fantastic United Away Wins

Louis van Gaal has urged his Manchester United players to improve their away record with the next two games on the road, at Norwich City on Saturday and West Ham next Tuesday night, set to decide whether the Reds will finish in the coveted top four places of the Barclays Premier League.

But while three defeats in the last four league trips have led to van Gaal describing United as "one of the lousiest away teams of the top clubs", the current campaign still provides some great examples of what the Reds can achieve when things click together on the road. Hopefully these five match summaries offer encouragement, even inspiration, ahead of the must-win visits to Carrow Road and Upton Park...

Southampton 2-3 United, St Mary’s Stadium, Sunday 20 September 2015
Anthony Martial enhanced his burgeoning reputation by scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Saints that moved the Reds up to second place in the Barclays Premier League. The French summer signing executed two impressively-composed finishes either side of the half-time break to overturn Graziano Pelle’s opener at St Mary’s. Juan Mata enhanced the lead and Italian striker Pelle bagged his second to set up a tense finale, though the Reds held on to claim an excellent result that closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to just two points following the Blues’ home defeat to West Ham.

Everton 0-3 United, Goodison Park, Saturday 17 October 2015
The Reds got back to winning ways with this first victory at Everton’s ground since 2011 thanks to goals from Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney. It was the perfect way for United to return to Barclays Premier League action following the international break and a chastening 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last time out. The result also maintained pressure on the leaders, Manchester City, who secured a comfortable 5-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.

Watford 1-2 United, Vicarage Road, Saturday 21 November 2015
Despite a raft of injuries, picked up before and during the game, United earned a dramatic 2-1 victory in Hertfordshire with Memphis marking his return to the side by scoring a first-half volley and Bastian Schweinsteiger surging forward to force a stoppage-time winner. David De Gea’s role in the lunch-time triumph cannot be overlooked either after a string of top saves from the Spaniard, especially in the second half when the Hornets wrested control of the game from the Reds. Only Watford captain Troy Deeney managed to beat him during that period to level the scores but the same player then suffered the agony of turning the ball into his own net from Schweinsteiger’s ferocious low drive in the dying moments. The win sent Louis van Gaal’s side into top spot until Saturday’s other games were completed.

Liverpool 0-1 United, Anfield, Sunday 17 January 2016
Rooney netted his club’s 100th Anfield goal against Liverpool to secure a late smash-and-grab victory over the Merseysiders. The United captain scored with 12 minutes left when he blasted home from close range after Marouane Fellaini’s header had come back off the bar. It’s fair to say the hosts dominated much of the 90 minutes, but Louis van Gaal’s men grew into the game after half-time before Rooney struck the killer blow, while the again-outstanding David De Gea repelled Liverpool’s regular attacks.

Manchester City 0-1 United, Etihad Stadium, Sunday 20 March 2016
The Reds closed the gap on the Blues to just one point with this crucial 1-0 victory, courtesy of Marcus Rashford's excellent first-half strike. The Manchester-born forward - making his first appearance in a first-team derby - produced a moment to savour on 16 minutes, showing an incredible turn of pace to burst into the area and slot the ball past Joe Hart. It was a mature piece of centre-forward play from the 18-year-old, and one which ultimately enabled United to make the journey back across town with all three points.