Luke Shaw has mixed night for Manchester United

  • Luke Shaw produced impressive performance for almost all the first half 
  • But then defender switched off for split second and CSKA score first goal 
  • Left-back’s first start for Manchester United in 219 games was largely solid

Luke Shaw was making what felt a very significant point and then inadvertently proved his manager’s.

This was a night when Shaw, on his first Manchester United start for 219 days, impressed for the most part. He buccaneered from left back, probed and drove: a real attacking force.

He enjoyed a quite marvellous opening 44 minutes. A thumping volley was beaten away by Igor Akinfeev, he willingly ran beyond midfield and debunked myths about his fitness.

Luke Shaw offered a reminder of his class and for large parts looked assured in defence

The left-back smashed a volley on target and forced a fine save out of Igor Akinfeev

The left-back smashed a volley on target and forced a fine save out of Igor Akinfeev

Shaw was looking every bit the £27million defender and not one who had played just 48 minutes this season.

But then disaster struck: his concentration vanished seconds before half-time. Needlessly sucked towards the ball, he failed to spot Mario Fernandes darting on the outside. From there CSKA Moscow scored in a flash.

Shaw could point towards a lack of cover by Daley Blind but he will be disappointed with his contribution and it will be interesting to see how forgiving Jose Mourinho is.

Shaw switched off for a split second and his error led to CSKA Moscow scoring the opener

Shaw switched off for a split second and his error led to CSKA Moscow scoring the opener

Mourinho will be disappointed with the mistake but surely heartened by the overall display

Mourinho will be disappointed with the mistake but surely heartened by the overall display

He was more than defensively sound before and after, too, which makes the mistake all the more unfortunate.

Quick to intercept breaks, he made important blocks and a huge challenge in his own area on Alan Dzagoev to bail out Juan Mata after a lazy pass.

Maybe Mourinho will give him the benefit of the doubt but that would not be in keeping with any of the previous 18 months. He could choose to remember this was, by and large, an encouraging night. Shaw certainly should. 



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