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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Manchester United fans make Jesse Lingard demand after late Villarreal win

Manchester United fans want to see Jesse Lingard given an opportunity to start after he made yet another match-winning contribution off the bench against Villarreal.

United left it late but finally got three points on the board in the Champions League and ended their run of losses as they defeated the La Liga side 2-1 on Wednesday.

Unai Emery's side will be bewildered as to how they didn't win themselves after they dominated in the first-half and took the lead shortly after the break through Paco Alcacer.

Yet United fought their way back into the game with Alex Telles equalising with a fine strike from a well-worked corner, which put the wind in their sails.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer introduced Lingard, as well as Edinson Cavani and Fred, late on and all played their part in a dramatic late winner.

Cavani battled for the ball as the five minutes of injury time approached its end and the ball eventually found its way to Fred who sent an excellent ball into the box which was met by Cristiano Ronaldo.

United's No.7 headed the ball down and Lingard did excellently to get ahead of a defender and back heel it back into his path for him to smash past the goalkeeper.

While Ronaldo will grab the headlines, it was Lingard who once again made a big difference after coming off of the bench.

The 28-year-old already has two Premier League goals to his name this season, including a late winner against West Ham, and now an assist with just one start so far, which came in the Carabao Cup.

Lingard has been playing so well, with little game time, that supporters want to see what he can do when given a chance from the off.

After the match, BT Sport pundit Michael Owen was full of praise for Lingard.

"I thought the subs were going to bring so much energy, Cavani, Jesse Lingard," he said. "I’m surprised Jesse Lingard wasn’t the first sub if I’m honest to only give him six minutes plus injury time wow, he’s absolutely flying at the moment.

"I thought Cristiano Ronaldo was going to take a step back and bring it down on his chest, he heads it down to Jesse and gets it back and the rest is history what a finish.

"Villarreal probably deserved something on the balance of play but the more and more and the longer the game went the more you fancied Man United and I was impressed with their energy."

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