Analysis: Fernandes the hero for United again

[Getty Images] Where would Manchester United have been for the past six years without Fernandes? Luckily that is not a question they need to ask or answer because they do have him. This week he was named the Professional Footballers' Association's men's player of the year for last season's exploits, where he broke a Premier League record with 21 assists. And he followed that up with his third hat-trick in a United shirt to take his tally up to 113 goals in 330 games. Michael Carrick's side really needed their captain to step up to the plate too after going behind. Having lost 2-0 to Hull last weekend, they were in danger of becoming just the fourth top-flight team ever to lose their first two games of a season against newly promoted clubs. They could have been trailing by more than one goal too - with Senne Lammens being called into action more than once. But the Portuguese scored thrice and then set up Mbeumo - who had earlier hit the bar - for the fifth goal. Moments after the hat-trick goal Fernandes shot from the centre circle but his effort landed on the roof of the net. The ultimate manner of the victory means there will be less focus on their second goal - which would have been disallowed had the VAR not ruled that Greaves diverted Maguire's shot into his own net.