'There was no magic': Solskjær criticises Manchester United after shock defeat

Manchester United suffered a shock defeat against Sheffield United, the bottom-placed team claiming only a second win of the season and first at Old Trafford since 1973, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær criticising his side’s conceding of “two bad goals”.

While victory still leaves Sheffield United 10 points from safety, this was United’s first defeat in 13 league matches though they remain in second place.

Related: Oliver Burke shocks Manchester United with Sheffield United winner

Solskjær said: “We had all the possession but conceded two bad goals. We didn’t create enough. There was no magic, no space to run into. They defended well, fair play to them. We didn’t have the right ideas or solutions.”

Kean Bryan opened the scoring before Harry Maguire’s equaliser was answered by Oli Burke’s 74th-minute winner. United thought they had levelled Bryan’s strike earlier when Anthony Martial turned home but Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Ramsdale, Sheffield United’s goalkeeper.

Solskjær was unhappy about this decision and believed Billy Sharp had fouled David de Gea before Bryan’s header yet he also conceded Burke’s winner was his team’s fault, the latter allowed space to finish after De Gea failed to hit the ball out, instead passing it directly to John Lundstram who created the goal.

“Sharp runs into him [De Gea] and at the other end it was no foul. That’s two mistakes by the referee [Peter Bankes],” the manager said. “But the second goal we conceded is so poor. But no big inquest as we have seen so many results out of character this season.”

Chris Wilder, Sheffield United’s manager, said: “There’s not been many moments for us this season. The players are jumping about in there and they have every right to, it’s been a tough old season but I’ll bring them back down to earth tomorrow.”