Alan Shearer said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his Manchester United substitutions spot-on during the Premier League victory over West Ham United yesterday.
Writing in his BBC column, Shearer highlighted how the two late changes made by Solskjaer affected the result in United’s favour.
Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic were both brought on in the final 15 minutes of the match, with the scores level at 1-1.
And it just had to be Lingard who put the Red Devils ahead, scoring a sublime goal 60 seconds before stoppage time had been added on.
Although wild scenes ensued in the way end, the forward’s celebrations were largely subdued.
It was the loan spell at West Ham last season that reignited the 28-year-old’s career, so to strike against them must’ve felt strange.
But now back in United colours, Lingard’s thoughts would have only been on obtaining the three points for Solskjaer’s side.
His wonderful effort atoned for the awful error that led to a shock Champions League defeat at the hands of Young Boys midweek.
United’s manager made a double sub in that game as well, yet the effect was polar opposite to that in the West Ham win.
Shearer’s sub verdict
“Jesse Lingard’s mistake gifted Young Boys victory and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got some stick for the substitutions he made near the end of that game, but both of them bounced back from that at London Stadium,” said Shearer.
“Solskjaer was brave and again made late changes against West Ham with the result in the balance.
“This time they paid off. Just like he did on Wednesday, he brought on Lingard and Nemanja Matic – and it was Matic who played in Lingard to score the winner.
“No-one was questioning Solskjaer’s substitutions after that.”
Solskjaer certainly felt the hot iron of the media’s criticism after the European loss, not to mention the wrath of supporters on social media.
However, their anger would have been quelled after the boys from the bench made the difference on Sunday.
Although, United’s three points were on the verge of disintegrating after Martin Atkinson awarded a very late penalty to the Hammers.
A tail of another substitute, Mark Noble was brought on solely for spot-kick duties.
Unfortunately, the switch made by David Moyes did not pay off, as David De Gea saved Noble’s attempt.
Reshuffling the pack really is Russian roulette, as Moyes and Solskjaer found out on the weekend.
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