Anthony Martial’s penalty was enough to hand Manchester United a slender 1-0 victory against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League.
The Frenchman, making his first start since August, had a quiet evening but his composure from the spot helped Man Utd to victory to ease the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United were hoping to avoid becoming the first United team to go 12 games without an away victory for 40 years.
After a cagey opening in the atmospheric Partizan Stadion, Scott McTominay should have put the visitors in front, heading wide from Juan Mata’s pinpoint free-kick.
Neither side was able to create a clear-cut opportunity until the 37th minute, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka won the ball on the edge of the Partizan area. He squared it to Jesse Lingard, who saw his placed effort bounce back off the post.
Partizan were also denied by the woodwork just moments later when Umar Sadiq curled a 25-yard effort against the post with Sergio Romero beaten.
But finally, United found the breakthrough. A super run from Williams down the left forced a challenge from Nemanja Miletic in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Martial brushed off any signs of rustiness to step up and roll his penalty into the bottom corner to give United a crucial lead.]
It happens to be the only goal that separates the two teams as the Red Devils picked their first away three-point of the season.
I hope this will be the start of things to come!