This was more like it for the Old Trafford faithful. Not just one half but almost a whole game they could enjoy.
Pogba and Martial combined to hand Manchester United all three points There were even stages yesterday when the home crowd roared at what they were witnessing as Manchester United pinged the ball about.
This was the Anthony Martial they wanted tearing down the left.The Paul Pogba they had hoped for commanding the midfield. This was good.Having failed to turn up for the first half of their last two league games they were on the front foot from the first whistle and did not let up.
Much of it was down to the fact that Romelu Lukaku was on the bench until past the hour mark.He had not scored in his previous eight games and not here at Old Trafford since last March. He was becoming a static figure, failing to make any runs, or link up with the rest of the team.
The option to find him with long balls was failing as he failed to win or hold the ball up.
He was making United look one dimensional, predictable. Instead in this game we had Marcus Rashford through the middle, Pogba further forward and the ball was getting to Martial.
United’s dominance in the first period was certainly greater than the 1-0 scoreline suggested. That single goal came courtesy of a 27th minute Pogba goal as he followed up his own missed penalty.
Martial had won the penalty with a burst of pace and piece of trickery. He tore into the box, stopped than went again.
Idrissa Gueye’s outstretched foot got a nick on the ball but his leg was right across Martial as the United forward tried to recover it and he went down.
Referee Jon Moss had no doubts as he pointed to the spot. Up stepped Pogba with slow little steps then two giant strides before wacking it down the middle.
Jordan Pickford had gone to his right but flung an am backwards and saved the effort.
Unfotunately for him the ball went straight back to Rashford and he returned it into the net.There were other chances of either side of that with Juan Mata planting a free header straight at Pickford.
Pogba had a shot well saved after a great interchange with Martial and when Rashford stabbed home the loose ball the flag went up for offside.
United kept up the pressure in the second period and after getting two at Stamford Bridge Martial was on target again. Lukaku would come on for Rashford on 65 minutes, to boos from the fans of his former club who would also find joy in his later missed header.
United and Pogba did try to hit the self destruct button as United conceded a penalty on 76 mi nutes. Such was the confidence going through Pogba’s veins that he tried a clever flick in his own half which did not come off.
Everton won possession, broke and Chris Smalling brough down Richarlison in the box. Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the resulting penalty but United would hold on for the three points.