Hull vs Manchester United match report: Marcus Rashford proves his worth to Jose Mourinho with last-ditch winner

It had been one of those days for Jose Mourinho until Marcus Rashford once again proved his ability to provide sunshine after the rain for Manchester United.

Hull City had parked the bus and the United manager resembled a man who had missed one, with his hair and coat soaked from a frustrating evening spent in the KCom Stadium technical area.

But just as United’s winning start to the campaign looked set to be halted by Mike Phelan’s dogged Hull, Rashford – demoted to the England U-21 squad by Sam Allardyce ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia – ghosted into the six yard box to strike a 92nd minute winner.

Wayne Rooney, who had endured a frustrating afternoon, made the goal by darting past Ahmed Elmohamady on the touchline before passing for Rashford to score from close range and move United level with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

The Rashford story has been one of the tales of 2016 and it shows no sign of ending.

Hull, despite going into the game level on points with United having won their opening two league fixtures, had failed to claim victory against the men from Old Trafford since November 1974 and with Phelan setting his team out in a rigid 4-1-4-1 formation, it was clear that avoiding defeat, rather than claiming all three points, was the game-plan.

So United were faced with breaking down a team high on confidence and it led to a frustrating first-half in East Yorkshire, with the rain pouring down on the KCom Stadium pitch.

United, unchanged from last weekend’s 2-0 victory at home to Southampton, did not lack attacking threat, with the likes of Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Martial and Mata in the starting line-up, but chances were limited in the opening period.

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It was Hull who went closest to striking first, with Robert Snodgrass sending a free-kick against the United wall on five minutes before the visitors responded four minutes later when Ibrahimovic directed a header from Martial’s cross over the bar from six yards.

Eldin Jakupovic’s goal was never under threat from the Swede’s effort, but seated at the opposite end of the ground, the United contingent cheered as though the ball had gone into the net. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

United dominated possession, with Antonio Valencia given acres of space down the right to torment Hull and cross into the penalty area.

But the Ecuadorean could rarely find a team-mate and United were unable to convert their dominance into goals.

As such, they were always vulnerable to a sucker punch and Snodgrass went close again on 24 minutes with a 25-yard free-kick, following Marouane Fellaini’s trip on Adama Diomande, which flew narrowly wide.

Sixty second later, the Scotland midfielder was forced to undergo lengthy treatment after crashing into the post following Luke Shaw’s headed clearance from Andy Robertson’s cross.

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Clearly in some considerable pain, Snodgrass had the misfortune of being laid out on the turf in front of the United supporters, who loudly taunted the player due to his Leeds United connections.

It was short on entertainment, so perhaps it was no surprise that the United fans turned to renewing their dormant rivalry with Yorkshire’s fallen giants.

Paul Pogba attempted to turn the focus back onto the pitch with a 30 yard effort which was saved by Jaukupovic, but it continued to be a scrappy game.

It was not until Mata broke behind the Hull defence on 36 minutes that United looked capable of scoring, but on that occasion, Jakupovic saved the Spaniard’s initial effort before Rooney saw his shot from the rebound blocked by the stomach of Curtis Davies, two yards out.

Mata, Martial and Ibrahimovic all had further chances to break the deadlock before half-time, but none could find the finishing touch to put United ahead.

Mourinho’s team were too blunt and, at times, their failure translate possession into chances was reminiscent of the struggles under Louis van Gaal last season, when United repeatedly ended games without scoring.

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On a greasy pitch, with over a hundred million pounds of attacking options at their disposal, United continued to press for an opener in the early stages of the second-half, but little happened to concern Jakupovic.

And Martial, knowing that he was about to be replaced by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, sent his first real effort at the Hull goal with a 20 yard effort which flashed just wide of the near post on sixty minutes.

That would be the Frenchman’s final contribution on an afternoon when he provided little else, but he was not the only one to fall short.

Mkhitaryan made a difference, however, with his invention in the final third providing Hull with problems, but United were still unable to make the breakthrough.

Mourinho threw on Marcus Rashford in place of Mata and Rooney sent a volley wide from 20 yards.

Meyler then shoved his arm in the direction of Valencia’s cross, but got away with conceding a penalty, yet the bombardment continued.

It abated briefly when Tom Huddlestone’s shot deflected off Eric Bailly and almost beat David de Gea, but United kept their foot to Hull’s throats as the clock ticked down.

Rashford forced a full-stretch save from Jakupovic, Mkhitaryan’s shot was blocked after fine work by Shaw, but the goal looked like it would never come.

But Rashford always seems to deliver, and once again, the teenager struck gold to secure victory and extend United’s 100 per cent start to the season.

HULL CITY (4-1-4-1): Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies, Robertson; Clucas; Snodgrass (Maloney 48), Huddlestone, Meyler, Diomande; Hernandez (Maguire 82).

Substitutes: Kuciak (g), Bowen, Olley, Clackstone, Hinchliffe.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Pogba; Mata (Rashford 71), Rooney (Smalling 90), Martial (Mkhitaryan 60); Ibrahimovic.

Substitutes: Romero (g), Young, Herrera, Schneiderlin.

Referee: Jon Moss