<<Print>>

The mark of a good team is they play poorly and win. Not as poorly as this, mind you. Manchester United were very ordinary indeed. Still, this is their fifth consecutive victory under Louis van Gaal and they have clawed their way up to third in the Premier League, so they must have something. What they had on Monday night was a world-class finisher in Robin van Persie. Since his title-winning first season at United he has often been criticised, but this was one of those occasions when he was the difference.