How Bruno Fernandes powered Man Utd to five-star thrashing of Ipswich Town

[p]With the Suffolk-based side having beaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a] in their first game of the new campaign, they arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in good spirits, and their attacking 4-2-3-1 lineup suggested that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-neil-gary/4rSZHs2M/"]Gary O'Neil[/a] wasn't going to let his team just turn up and be lambs to the slaughter.[/p][infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][h2]Rashford warmly received on Old Trafford return[/h2][p]He'd named an unchanged XI from the one that beat the Black Cats, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carrick-michael/phM8NElP/"]Michael Carrick[/a] had made four changes to his [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]United[/a] lineup.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] was warmly received by the home support, and he responded well on his first outing at the ground in 18 months by having three attempts at goal in the opening half hour, more than anyone else on the pitch.[/p][image alt="Man Utd vs Ipswich Town - Momentum shifts" id="a6446d5c-012b-47d2-b1cf-aaebcf46eb26" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f6e032e0-9c54-4d8d-888a-da6d9923c230" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]His attempts were part of eight from United during that early period, though it was the visitors who struck first, thanks to an excellent rising left-footed drive from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davis-leif/rRuHW6a0/"]Leif Davis[/a], the left-back scoring in the Premier League for the first time since November 2nd, 2024 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leicester/KrrdAMyI/"]Leicester City[/a].[/p][p]Ominously, United had failed to win any of their last three home matches when falling behind; however, they were soon on level terms thanks to captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandes-bruno/GYvAMDm2/"]Bruno Fernandes[/a].[/p][h2]Red Devils inspired by Bruno[/h2][p]The Portuguese was, once again, the shining light for his team, having the second-most touches of any player on the pitch (94, just two less than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lisandro/GIzJAqQs/"]Lisandro Martinez[/a]), and one less shot taken (eight) than the entire [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ipswich/thqhB2MB/"]Ipswich[/a] team.[/p][p]He was an example for his teammates to follow, and with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbeumo-bryan/8KDrOl80/"]Bryan Mbeumo[/a] hitting the woodwork and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tielemans-youri/GtkTQyib/"]Youri Tielemans[/a] having an effort cleared off the line just after the break, it appeared to be only a matter of time before the hosts edged ahead.[/p][embed guid="4d07016b-c99d-4eee-9acb-21b753960f93" url="https://x.com/ManUtd/status/2094107682227585088" social-type="twitter" /][p]Only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukic-sasa/nwu2UvUA/"]Sasa Lukic[/a] was offering anything like a rearguard action from the visitors, winning two of the three tackles he attempted, with none of his Ipswich teammates attempting more than one each.[/p][p]Eight efforts at goal from United in four minutes were always going to test the visitors' resolve, but when the Red Devils' second goal arrived, it wasn't without controversy.[/p][h2]Controversial Maguire goal[/h2][p]The ball clearly hit [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maguire-harry/xG8v3YRA/"]Harry Maguire[/a] on the hand before he found the net via a deflection from Ipswich's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/greaves-jacob/zJBUaWwh/"]Jacob Greaves[/a]. That touch, effectively making the goalbound effort an own goal, meant that a little-known law was invoked and the goal stood.[/p][p]Had Maguire's shot gone straight in, it would've been chalked off. Such small margins.[/p][embed guid="161b8c85-f66d-4b3f-929e-388ea24b8d32" url="https://x.com/ManUtd/status/2094306072735420731" social-type="twitter" /][p]Worse was to follow for Greaves, who conceded a penalty three minutes later, which was coolly slotted home by Fernandes.[/p][p]If O'Neil wanted to fathom just why his side were being dominated so much - United had another flurry of four chances in four minutes just after the hour - it could probably be seen by their lack of pass completion.[/p][h2]Poor passing from Ipswich[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/emersonn/48J66oWK/"]Emersonn[/a] managed just 50%, though embarrassingly that was one success from only two passes made in total. Both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fataw-issahaku/bZdUUhdL/"]Abdul Fatawu[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/akpom-chuba/r3FhGWO6/"]Chuba Akpom[/a] could only manage 66.7%, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/furlong-darnell/v7A8Ma04/"]Darnell Furlong[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nunez-marcelino/vsbLBLNn/"]Marcelina Nunez[/a] and Davies only slightly improved with a return in the 70% range.[/p][p]Another goal for Bruno on 68 minutes gave him his third in three appearances against Ipswich, and saw United hit four for the first time since December 15th, 2025 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] (4-4).[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="d6ea32e3-f8f2-42ff-939d-65b3be98c6fa" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="7dfb7be5-03c9-466f-a1d5-9858e259aa55" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]A first Premier League hat-trick for the Portuguese since August 14th, 2021 against Leeds United was always going to earn him the man-of-the-match accolade, though 33 total shots taken by the team certainly needs acknowledging.[/p][p]Carrick had his side on the front foot throughout, and whilst it's still too early to suggest they were looking like the United of old, there are signs that this emerging squad could soon be a force to be reckoned with.[/p][h2]United hit five[/h2][p]Rashford's seven duels won out of 10 attempted, and two successful dribbles from four, not to mention four attempts at goal and seven touches in the Ipswich box (the joint-most), rightly earned him a standing ovation when he was subbed off.[/p][embed guid="ee78822c-f671-464f-8e04-ca191ce76f86" url="https://x.com/ManUtd/status/2094116712568193031" social-type="twitter" /][p]Mbeumo added some gloss to the scoreline late on with, coincidentally, his third in three appearances against Ipswich.[/p][p]A fifth goal saw United's first 'nap hand' since a 5-1 win over Leeds United on August 14, 2021, which was also the last time that Bruno had scored a hat-trick for the club in the league.[/p][p]Akpom's injury-time consolation was of no real solace for the travelling supporters, who had seen their side well beaten.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ipswich-thqhB2MB/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/summary/stats/?mid=4S67nB0K"]Catch up on all the match stats with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]