Manchester United's winning start to the season continued as they beat Hull City 1-0 at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils were made to work hard for their victory, eventually finding a way through from their 29th attempt of the match in added time.
Marcus Rashford proved to be the hero, tapping home from close range to round off a fine cameo appearance from the bench on his first appearance of the campaign.
Relive how the action-packed 90 minutes unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Hull City and Manchester United at the KCOM Stadium. These two sides have enjoyed winning starts to the campaign, but something has to give this evening when they lock horns on Humberside.
A perfect start for United is not all that surprising when taking into account the riches available to new boss Jose Mourinho, although in the case of Hull - backed so heavily to go straight back down come next May – they have stunned many by taking six point from six in a run that includes the impressive scalp of champions Leicester City.
All eyes will very much by on the Red Devils this evening, though, as Mourinho looks to take this positive run of form into the international break. The cynics will point out that United have only actually played Bournemouth and Southampton in the Premier League so far, yet both of those corresponding fixtures ended in defeat during Louis van Gaal's final season at the helm.
What we can say about this United side, from the opening two weeks of the term, is that they are very efficient at what they do. It is typical Mourinho in many ways – strangle the opposition and nick the odd goal to pick up the points in the most no-nonsense way possible. The Red Devils are strong favourites to win again this evening to make it four from four when including the Community Shield triumph earlier this month.
Key to the early-season success has been one of the four summer arrivals, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic justifying his hefty wages by scoring in every game he has played so far. In the league it is three goals in two games, one of which came from the penalty spot against Southampton eight days ago, and he will now be chasing down Pavel Pogrebnyak's leading tally of five goals in the first four games at a new club (Fulham in 2012).
Incredibly, Ibrahimovic has lost only 19 of his last 185 league games since the start of 2010-11, enjoying overwhelming success at both AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, while also beginning life at Old Trafford in style. To put that into some context, today's opponents Hull lost the same number of games during their last season at this level.
Mourinho has very much got the man he wanted up top, then, and the Portuguese has been backed heavily elsewhere too with the arrivals of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba since the start of the summer. All eyes remain on Pogba, of course, which is understandable given his price tag, but each of the newcomers are expected to play an equal part in the club's run to the title.
The only other possible arrival, if press reports are to be believed, is Jose Fonte from Southampton. The Portugal international could well pen a new contract at St Mary's, however, meaning Mourinho will likely miss out on further defensive cover. In terms of the opposite direction, many youngsters have been shipped out on loan of late and others are expected to follow before Wednesday's deadline.
This has very much been a nice gentle introduction to life at United for Mourinho, who was given a welcoming set of fixtures, with just the league to focus on ahead of the first international break. That will all change when the Premier League resumes in a fortnight's time, however, as the Red Devils face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in what should be a thrilling derby clash, before turning attention to the League Cup and Europa League. That is when things really start to get interesting.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hit the ground running at new club Manchester United, scoring three goals in his first two Premier League games and also bagging the winner against Leicester City in the Community Shield. Only eight players have scored four goals in their first three outings for a new club, so the former Paris Saint-Germain striker will no doubt be tracking down that record today.
DID YOU KNOW? While all the talk has, understandably, centred around Ibrahimovic, teammate Wayne Rooney arguably provides a bigger threat to Hull's backline this evening. The Englishman has scored seven goals in his last five Premier League appearances against City and has been involved in 10 goals in six appearances overall – three assists and seven strikes of his own.
While United were always expected to challenge at the top right from the off, it was a different story for Hull who were completely written off before a ball was kicked. Thirteen fit senior players, a proposed takeover of the club in the balance and, most frustrating of all, no manager to preside over things – it is fair to say that life did not look too promising this time two weeks ago.
That all changed with a hugely impressive 2-1 win over Leicester on the opening day – the first time the defending champions had lost on the opening day of the season in the Premier League era. That was followed up with a 2-0 win over Swansea City last weekend, meaning that the Tigers are one of just four teams yet to have dropped a point heading into the third round of league games.
Mike Phelan is the man who has been tasked with watching over things, with Hull failing to land their top managerial target in Chris Coleman. Phelan has certainly done all he can to nail down the job full time and, with the backing of his players and fans, it is now looking increasingly likely that he will indeed be given the managerial position on a permanent basis until at least the end of the season.
This will be a particularly special evening for Phelan as he spent 14 years as part of United's backroom staff, including an assistant role alongside Sir Alex Ferguson, before being overlooked in 2013 when David Moyes ushered in a new era at Old Trafford. Phelan is not exactly bitter about that saga, and he still wishes the Red Devils all the best – just not today, with three more points almost certain to be enough to give him this job on a permanent basis.
Hull are slowly starting to get some senior players back to fitness, including Harry Maguire who featured in the midweek League Cup win over Exeter City. The centre-back is reportedly pushing for a move to Middlesbrough – more on that when we check out the team news – but for now Phelan is simply focused on strengthening his squad and not depleting it any further.
City have been linked with numerous names over the past seven days or so, perhaps boosted by this impressive start to the campaign, with Tottenham Hotspur's Ryan Mason and Aston Villa outcast Micah Richards both said to be close to signing at the KCOM Stadium. It must be remembered, though, that survival is still very much the main target, so Hull must spend within their means as this takeover saga rumbles on.
Victory for the Tigers this evening would place them alongside Bolton Wanderers as the only two sides to win their opening three Premier League games following promotion from the Championship – some start for the Humberside outfit, who have had so much to contend with over recent weeks; not least the departure of their manager less than a month before the new campaign.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Hull have lost 10 and won none of their last 11 meetings with United in all competitions, last tasting victory in this fixture back in November 1974. The Red Devils have won three of their four previous visits here, meanwhile, drawing the other during that run on the final day of the 2014-15 season when a goalless draw helped send City back to the Championship.
The last time these two sides met was on the final day of the 2014-15 season, when a goalless draw sent Hull City back down to the Championship. Manchester United have dominated this fixture down the years, winning 10 of the last 11 encounters.
With kickoff at the KCOM Stadium now around 20 minutes away, let us check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Mike Phelan: "Having been successful at Old Trafford and having thoroughly enjoyed being a player, a coach and an assistant manager at United it is a terrific feeling knowing you are going to be in charge of a team to play against them, albeit as caretaker but it is something special.
"I don't think there is anything I have to prove to Man United, my whole chapter of being part of the club's history stands on its own. I am not in it on Saturday to gain any credibility out of it. I have done my job at United and did it reasonably well. But I may have to beat them to get the job at Hull! That's the only reason I want to win."
Jose Mourinho: "I have 23 players in the squad and in principle there is nobody leaving and nobody is coming. Twenty-three players is more than enough and, if you have a problem or an opportunity, then I have a few young players in the academy that I will be more than happy to give an acceleration in their process.
"I like Cameron Borthwick-Jackson very much but he will go to Wolverhampton to play [on loan] because I have Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind to play left-back. These are the kind of decisions every club makes. I think we are going to have a very quiet week, not surrounded by helicopters waiting for someone to arrive or leave - I am more than happy with the squad I have."
Mourinho talking there about United's transfer plans for the next few days, then, suggesting that he would rather turn to academy players than give Bastian Schweinsteiger another shot in midfield. Phelan with plenty of happy memories from his time at United, meanwhile, where he spent 14 years before departing in 2013 when David Moyes took over. Can he get one over on his former suitors this evening? Let's now check out some confirmed team news...
HULL CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies, Robertson; Myler, Huddlestone, Clucas; Snodgrass, Hernandez, Diomande
SUBS: Kuciak, Clackstone, Maguire, Olley, Maloney, Hincliffe, Bowen
Phelan has, unsurprisingly, named an unchanged side for the visit of his former side this evening. Maguire is back on the bench, but he is unable to oust Jake Livermore - a midfielder by trade, remember - out of the Tigers' backline. Shaun Maloney is another who is perhaps unfortunate to miss out after his goal against Swansea last time out, but Phelan has opted to keep faith with the same XI.
Alex Bruce and Michael Dawson are both still out of action, meanwhile, so City still have an incredibly weak bench for this level. The good news for Phelan is that Robert Snodgrass, Abel Hernandez and Diomande - each of whom start up top today - have hit the ground running, scoring six between them already this season. Jakupovic retains his place in goal, but Cardiff City's David Marshall is expected to join over the two-week break.
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic
SUBS: Romero, Smalling, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Schneiderlin, Young, Rashford
Like his opposite number, Mourinho has also decided to go with an unchanged starting lineup today. A tad surprising, with Mkhitaryan still being overlooked despite his hugely impressive Bundesliga stats, but then again why would you want to change a winning formula? That means Daley Blind retains his place in the heart of defence alongside Bailly, with Chris Smalling having to settle for a place on the bench.
Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba are again tasked with sitting in front of the back four, although the Frenchman will be given the licence to push forward to start - and possible round-off - attacking moves. Anthony Martial and Juan Mata's place in the team were thought to be under threat, yet Mourinho keeps faith with them and overlooks Mkhitaryan for the third league game running.
PREDICTION! This is not quite the one-sided affair many would have expected when looking ahead to this fixture a couple of weeks ago, but one that the visitors should be taking maximum points from nonetheless. It is fair to say that the Tigers have nothing to lose this evening, though, and they will give their all in an attempt to give stand-in boss Phelan victory against his former suitors.
The players have now gone through their warm-ups and are now in the tunnel area, with kickoff a little over two minutes away. Two teams boasting winning starts here, but something has got to give over the next couple of hours. Bring it on!
KICKOFF! Manchester United get us underway at the KCOM Stadium, instantly going long to Fellaini out on the right. The Red Devils setting their stall out early on here, against a Hull City side that will look to keep things tight.
Ibrahimovic involved less than three minutes in, as he takes the ball down inside the box with an audacious flick but nothing comes of it. I actually thought it was a high foot, but it does not matter as Hull were able to clear.
Hull playing some really nice football in these first five minutes or so, working the ball forward and earning a free kick in a promising position when Fellaini lunged in on Diomande. Really unnecessary, but the free kick was flat and Huddlestone blasted over from the rebound.
So seven minutes in at the KCOM Stadium and it is Hull who have started the better of the two teams. The Red Devils did look flat for large parts of the first half against Bournemouth in their only over away outing this term, before bagging a goal late in the half.
Pogba guilty of giving the ball away around 40 yards form goal, perhaps trying to force the situation a little too much. The Frenchman had Martial out on the left and that would have been the better option. United slowly growing into the match.
CLOSE! A roar goes up from the away end - United fans thought they had made the breakthrough. Ibrahimovic flicked Martial's cross towards goal, but it ended the wrong side of the crossbar and skimmed the roof of the net.
A good, high-tempo feel to this match on Humberside in the early stages. Hull not looking to simply sit back; instead getting bodies forward when they can but so far being unable to test David de Gea in the United goal.
Snodgrass unhappy with the way Shaw went to ground under slight contact, but it is a free kick nonetheless. Mata currently staying high up the field close to Ibrahimovic, with Rooney slightly further back in a midfield position.
Good movement in attack from the visitors, but there is still little in terms of chances created. Ibrahimovic's flicked header the closest we have come to an opener so far, with his attempt skimming the roof of the opposition net.
United have dominated possession over the past five minutes or so, though Hull are defending well as a group and not giving the visitors any sort of space to penetrate the backline. The chance to quickly break not yet arrived.
Davies deals with a good delivery into the box, as the visitors slowly begin to turn the screw. Rooney was desperate to get a shot away from 20 yards out, but some good closing down denied him the chance to do so.
YELLOW CARD! Marouane Fellaini is shown a yellow card with a quarter of the match played after bringing down Diomande on the charge around 35 yards from goal. The Belgian gives away far too many sloppy free kicks, but he also has that knack of taking one for the team.
CLOSE! Snodgrass has De Gea beaten from the free kick, but the ball ends just inches wide of the target. From the next attack, Robertson sent in a superb delivery which Shaw just about got to ahead of Snodgrass. Hull now on top!
Snodgrass picked up a knock when trying to get on the end of that Robertson delivery from wide. The Scotsman had to receive some treatment, and the referee called for a stretcher at one point, but he is now back on the field for the time being.
Davies produces another big block to deny United, as the rain lashes down at the KCOM Stadium. The Tigers have looked very bright over the past five or six minutes, which will no doubt delight for United assistant Phelan.
SHOT! Pogba takes on a shot from all of 35 yards out, which skims off the surface and into the welcoming hands of Jakupovic. I make that the first shot on goal from either side, with just over half-hour now played.
SAVE! Two saves in two minutes for Jakupovic to make. Mata is the latest to test the Hull keeper, firing a shot on target from a free kick 25 yards out, which the 31-year-old read well to comfortably collect.
There is a strong shout for Curtis Davies being among the players of the season so far in the Premier League. The City centre-back has been solid throughout his latest test, heading away pretty much every cross into the box from wide areas.
SAVE! Hull's best moment of the match so far, as Hernandez flicks a header towards the bottom corner of the net. De Gea was across to gather the ball, though, and it may well have been heading narrowly wide regardless.
OFF THE LINE! Real panic at the back for the hosts, as Jakupovic keeps a shout out before Rooney gets on the end of the Rooney and sends the ball goalwards. Davies was in the right place at the right time, however, keeping it out with his chest and not, as Rooney claimed, with his arm.
United's best spell of the match, right at the end of this first half. Rooney sends a ball in towards Martial, who just could not quite get on the end of the cross. City need to keep their composure in the closing stages of this half or else they face going into the break behind.
Meyler completely clatters into Pogba, which probably should have been a yellow card. The Hull midfielder is in the side to help break up play like that, but perhaps not quite in that manner. City have done well to take the sting out of things over the past few minutes here.
SAVE! A really good headed effort from Mata, who directed Valencia's cross towards goal despite needing to generate power. He is not known for his headed goals, but Jakupovic needed to read that to collect the ball.
CLOSE! Ibrahimovic, marginally offside, gets to the ball ahead of Jakupovic at the end of a free kick. It was a tough one to bring down and he had to go with a back-heeled finish from the tight angle, which he sent into the side-netting. Up the other end, Diomande got another clean strike on goal for De Gea to save.
HALF TIME: HULL CITY 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
We are all square at the break, with neither side able to make a telling difference in front of goal. Manchester United have just about edged things in terms of the clear-cut opportunities, but Hull City also managed to get a couple of attempts on goal - the latest arriving on the brink of half time via Diomande.
Ibrahimovic, much like he has during the opening weeks of his United career, was involved in most of the visitors' best moments and came close to opening the scoring nine minutes in. A flat ball into the box was flicked goalwards by the former Paris Saint-Germain striker, skimming the net on its way through but not testing Eldin Jakupovic in the Hull goal.
City were certainly not willing to simply sit back, however, and they came close twice in quick succession a quarter of the way through the game when Robert Snodgrass sent a free kick narrowly wide, before marginally failing to get on the end of a fine Andrew Robertson cross. Jakupovic had two saves to make in quick succession soon after, keeping out a weak Paul Pogba attempt from 35 yards out and a Juan Mata free kick from slightly closer range.
Hull may have a poor overall record against their opponents, but that did not stop them from pushing on in search of an opener as Adama Diomande and Abel Hernandez both got attempts on target, which David de Gea did not have to break out of stride to collect. Mata also had a headed attempt kept out prior to the interval, generating enough power in Antonio Valencia's cross to ask questions of Jakupovic, but the best chance fell the way of Wayne Rooney.
Jakupovic initially did well to keep an angled shot out, although unfortunately for him the rebound fell nicely to Rooney who was denied an opener only by the chest of Curtis Davies on the goal-line. The final opening of the entertaining opening 45 minutes fell the way of Ibrahimovic, yet he failed to find the net with his back-heeled attempt after getting on the end of a free kick ahead of Jakupovic.
Plenty of players for Mourinho to turn to at the midway point, including last season's breakthrough star Marcus Rashford. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is another option in attack, while Hull have a real dearth of quality, experienced back-ups.
HULL CITY SUBS: Kuciak, Clackstone, Maguire, Olley, Maloney, Hinchcliffe, Bowen
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Smalling, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Schneiderlin, Young, Rashford
RESTART! Hull City get us back under way at the KCOM Stadium. No changes made by either manager at the midway point, but Snodgrass is still limping around and will surely only be kept on until the hour mark.
Snodgrass lasts 33 seconds into the second half before going to ground. Another injury blow for the Tigers, with one of their more creative players having to depart. Maloney will be brought on, a week on from his key goal at Swansea.
HULL CITY SUB! Hull make that enforced change, bringing on Maloney for the injured Snodgrass. Maloney was a tad unlucky not to start today, so not a huge blow for the Tigers' hopes with forty minutes left to play on Humberside.
SAVE! Rooney flicks the ball towards goal with his head, but is another simple one for Jakupovic to deal with. The Red Devils need to step things up a bit if they are to find a way through; Mourinho's changes likely to prove key to that.
Elmohamady getting more involved now, sending in one cross that deceived Hernandez with an awkward bounce before being thwarted by Shaw in his next foray down the flank. Mkhitaryan about to be brought on by Mourinho, with Martial expected to make way.
The attendance has just been announced at the KCOM Stadium - 24,560 here today, including 2,319 visiting supporters. Ibrahimovic's bad touch - that's a rarity! - lets him down as United struggle to find any sort of rhythm in this second half.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Martial fires wide of goal from his final act of the game, with Mkhitaryan finally being introduced. It is the earliest he has been brought on so far in his United tenure - can he make the desired impact?
Ibrahimovic's snap-shot ends narrowly wide of target, helped on its way via a deflection. A lack of width for United now with Mata and Mkhitaryan moving into central areas, but they are building a little momentum at the moment.
United have upped the pace of their attacking moves all of a sudden; Ibrahimovic flicking on the ball to Mata who was clean through, only for the offside flag to deny him a clean shot on goal. Phelan must surely be thinking about making a second change.
Pogba is not afraid to shoot from range, but this latest attempt from around 30 yards out is wide of the target. City finding it more and more difficult to hold back their opponents, who are now enjoying themselves in the final third.
Rashford is still yet to play a single minute this season. Surely now is the time for Mourinho to turn to the youngster, rather than before it is too late to make a difference. United certainly on top, but Jakupovic not exactly facing an onslaught.
Rashford has stripped down on the sidelines and is about to be introduced. The big question is who does Mourinho take off? Mata is an obvious suggestion, but Rooney has not done a great deal and it would make more sense on the face of it.
YELLOW CARD! Hull occasionally managing to get forward but when they do so United attack through Mkhitaryan, who is scythed down by Tom Huddlestone for the game's second booking. Ibrahimovic takes on the free kick which is fired straight into the wall.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! United doing a City now as Shaw drifts into a central midfield position. Not really having to do any defending over the past 15 minutes or so, with the visitors asking all the questions now. Rashford on for Rooney with 20 minutes to go.
SHOT! Rooney, who has 10 goals in six appearances against the Tigers, meets a volley perfectly but sends the ball a yard or so wide of the target. Not really sure if City can continue in this manner for the remainder. Meyler blocks a cross with his shoulder - cue shouts for a penalty.
CLOSE! Almost a breakthrough goal for Hull City, who have barely put together a solid attack in this second half. Huddlestone's shot from range was deflected horribly by Bailly, but thankfully for De Gea it dropped the right side of the post.
YELLOW CARDS! Huddlestone sends a well-hit shot narrowly over the bar, before Meyler - a tad lucky not to concede a penalty a little earlier - earns a yellow for a foul just outside the box. Rooney also cautioned for saying something to the referee.
Pogba is the man who takes on the free kick from 25 yards out but, just like Ibrahimovic before him, the Frenchman sends a poor effort wide of the target. Mata has also missed one, so Rooney will presumably be next up!
SAVE! Rashford has already made a massive difference, jinking his way into the box and bending the ball towards the bottom corner. Jakupovic does brilliantly to get across - his first 'real' save of the evening, with 80 minutes on the clock.
Hull get a bit fortunate as a cross from the right is bundled towards his own goal by Davies, but the ball is blocked away before it can trickle over the line. Non-stop action over the past 15 minutes or so; United well and truly knocking on the door now!
CHANCES! Rashford lays the ball off for Mkhitaryan, who stuttered a split-second too long and gave his opponent a chance to block the ball. A cross from the right was then turned towards goal, but Jakupovic was again there to parry it away.
HULL CITY SUB! Harry Maguire is on for Hernandez, as Phelan looks to go defensive. City getting deeper and deeper as the minutes tick by, somehow holding off their opponents despite this onslaught at the KCOM Stadium.
CLOSE! Pogba curls a shot on goal, which looks for all the world like being the opener, but it somehow ends inches wide - attempt number 24! The Red Devils have played well this evening, but the ball just will not go into the net.
We are into added time now at the KCOM Stadium, where four additional minutes will be played. Hull doing absolutely everything they can to keep United out, but the Red Devils look like they have a goal in them even with time against them.
GOAL! HULL CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (MARCUS RASHFORD)
It's been coming! Marcus Rashford has been superb since being introduced and, moments after Meyler sent a shot inches of the bar at one end, Rashford was tapping in Rooney's squared pass up the other. Surely a winner for the Red Devils, which they deserve in fairness.
FULL TIME: HULL CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
The full-time whistle sounds at the KCOM Stadium, meaning three more points for Manchester United. It is fair to say that they were made to work hard by their opponents, as Hull City held out right until the final few seconds before finally coming unstuck when Marcus Rashford tapped home from close range - a fine way to round off what was an impressive cameo appearance from the bench.
Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage from events on Humberside. What a match that was - 29 attempts from United alone, and Hull could well have nicked it themselves late on before Rashford made the difference. Be sure to join us tomorrow afternoon for more Premier League action!
