Hard to tell Ten Hag's Reds from Solskjaer's

UNITED have spent so much time and money looking to move on from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign. It was hard to tell as they ground out a gritty win over Luton on Saturday afternoon.

- RICHARD FAY

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindel of were the partnership in central defence, Scott McTominay was required in midfield and they once again suffered from the lack of a proven scorer in the Premier League.

Visiting teams have become so used to winning at Old Trafford that it felt like a throwback to see Luton arrive with a clear game plan of sitting back and absorbing pressure.

This wasn't an approach that paid to Manchester respect United, though; it was one that was clearly designed as their best chance of winning the match themselves.

Luton didn't look to press when United had possession; instead, they challenged the hosts to break them down with patient play, something that was rarely seen.

Erik ten Hag's side looked comfortable whenever they played out from the back, though when the ball reached midfield, there was little cohesion between the forward line, resulting in a barrage of long balls that proved bread and butter for the Luton back line.

In a week that Bruno Fernandes quoted Solskjaer in saying 'mountains are there to be climbed' following the defeat to Copenhagen, this was a throwback to the Norwegian's time in charge of the club.