THROWBACK TO OLD UNITED

Goals galore as Van Nistelrooy gets a reaction

- David McDonnell

MANCHESTER UNITED fans and Erik ten Hag in particular are entitled to ask where electric performances like this have been all season.

Interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, in charge following Ten Hag's sacking on Monday, promised a return to United's attacking heritage, with plenty of goals - and the players duly delivered.

During a season of unremitting tedium and a lack of goals, this was a throwback to the United of old cavalier, full-throttle football, with a goal threat every time the team attacked. It was the uncompromising style embodied during the glittering days of Sir Alex Ferguson - watching on at Old Trafford in which Van Nistelrooy played his part as a prolific goalscorer.