Partizan vs Manchester United result: Anthony Martial’s penalty just enough to earn Europa League boost

Partizan Belgrade 0-1 Manchester United: Anthony Martial's goal the penalty spot shortly before half-time proved enough for the visitors to take away an important three points

Anthony Martial scores from the penalty spot (EPA)

For the first time since that night in Paris, some 233 days ago, Manchester United finally have an away win. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side took command of Group L with this Europa League victory over Partizan Belgrade and kept a clean sheet in the process, though that is where the signs of encouragement end. Anthony Martial’s penalty converted at the end of the first half was decisive but so too was Partizan’s wasteful finishing.

There are mitigating circumstances. 18-year-old James Garner made his first senior start. 19-year-old full-back Brandon Williams made only his second. Martial played his first significant minutes since August. Jesse Lingard was also returning from a spell on the sidelines. Harry Maguire was captaining United for the first time and so caught up in the moment, he briefly forgot to perform his pre-match coin toss and pennant-sharing duties.

It was all played out in a predictably heated atmosphere too, with uniformed firefighters – yellow helmets and all – placed at each end of the pitch to extinguish flares. Amid the hostility, there was also poignancy. The Partizan Stadium was the site of the Busby Babes’ final game together before eight of their number lost their lives in the Munich air disaster. United officials held a memorial ceremony on the pitch on Thursday morning.

More than anything, Solskjaer will be pleased to end the long wait for a victory on the road. United’s away record has been one of the many sticks used to beat him and his players during a difficult start to the season. The streak is over now. But the underlying problems remain and should not be masked by a valuable three points won in challenging circumstances. A better team than Partizan would have punished United’s performance.

Managed by Aston Villa cult icon Savo Milosevic, Partizan made 15 attempts on Sergio Romero’s goal, hitting the post through on-loan striker Umar Sadiq, and they believed they deserved a penalty of their own when the ball struck two United arms in as many minutes. Slicker counter-attacks and more precise finishing would have earned them a result. United, meanwhile, were just as lacklustre in attack.

Martial’s penalty was their only shot on target of the night. Though Jesse Lingard struck the post, they created precious little in the way of clear-cut chances – a familiar problem under Solskjaer. At least Williams showed why his manager is constantly demanding more direct football from his players. His surge past Nemanja Miletic drew a foul from the Partizan full-back and left referee Xavier Fernandez without much choice but to point to the spot.

Despite the waves of Partizan attacks which followed, United would hold on to end that miserable away run. “Of course I’m happy now that we can just look forward to the next one,” Solskjaer said. “Try to build momentum.” Trips to Norwich, Chelsea in the EFL Cup and Bournemouth now follow. United may not have to wait long for a second away victory in quick succession, though they will have to improve on this.