Just where would Reds be without Fernandes?

"WHERE would we be without him?" a composed Manchester United staff member asked. Maybe they had restrained themselves out of sheer surprise at Bruno Fernandes' goal.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

United's only effort on target in the first half came in the second minute of added time. For the second month running, Fernandes bent it like Beckham.

Fernandes is resembling Beckham's idol, Bryan Robson; the talismanic captain in an underachieving United team. He is certain to keep the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year statue after this season. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea's names are etched onto it four times and a fourth is in the off-ing for Fernandes.

Before his conversion at Goodison Park two weeks ago, Fernandes had not scored a direct Premier League free-kick in 48 attempts. Fernandes had the benefit of staring down David Raya, a goalkeeper better with his feet than his hands.

Raya was having such a serene afternoon his gloves seemed certain to be kept clean at its conclusion. They were still unmuddied after Fernandes' saveable free kick but the Spaniard later saved superbly with his legs from Noussair Mazraoui and Fernandes.

Even the worst United side in 51 years has the flicker of a fear factor. Arsenal ordered United to attack the Stretford End in the first half. Fernandes jubilantly charged towards its denizens.

Roy Keane was in attendance to see Fernandes' effect in the flesh. Had Fernandes known Keane was watching from above the other corner of the Stretford End, maybe he would have headed in that direction.

It was Fernandes who put United 1-0 up at Arsenal in January, who instigated the fightback at Everton, created all three goals against Ipswich Town and kept them in the FA Cup a little longer. That is indubitably captain material.