Jesse Lingard came off the bench for Manchester United today and ten minutes later headed home a Romelu Lukaku cross to give United a 2-1 lead that would ultimately give them all three points against top four rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Lingard has found a very nice habit, for United, of popping up with some hugely important goals – and some on the very big stage – and now lies only behind Lukaku in United’s scoring charts on the season overall – but yet, despite this return from the United academy product, has only completed full 90 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester United twice this season – in the 2-1 loss at Huddersfield and the 0-0 home draw with Southampton, prompting many fans to draw comparisons with another ex-United big game player Ole Gunnar Solksjaer – both with the ‘supersub’ title, but also having that uncanny knack of being the player to grab the big goal – especially when needed.
Manchester United fans on social media were quick to heap praise on Lingard on the back of his winner today :
Fans praising Martial FC and Pogba FC what about Jesse Lingard, scores big big goals big game player. Respect.
— UnitedWithFootball (@alleyne_kammies) February 25, 2018
How can anyone still hate Jesse lingard? He’s been our saving grace so many times this season
— rav norris (@RavNorris) February 25, 2018
You’ve got to give huge credit to Jesse Lingard. Plenty of doubt around him (from ourselves included) but keeps working and keeps popping up at important moments. Huge goal again.
— Red Devil Chronicle (@wefollowunited) February 25, 2018
Manchester United have never lost when Jesse Lingard has scored (8 wins & 3 draws). #MUFC pic.twitter.com/3hIcH5h1PE
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 25, 2018
This winner against Chelsea is added to his ‘famous’ goals in the FA Cup Final, Carabao Cup Final, Community Shield as well as scoring at twice at the Emirates earlier this season in a 1-3 romp for the Red Devils.
Lingard may have a way to go just yet before having any kind of legendary status at Old Trafford that Solksjaer has, but his penchant for a goal and this clutch attitude for the big games bode well for a player that is still only 25 years old, but has already chalked up 118 appearances for Manchester United scoring them a very valuable 24 goals. He may well be United’s very next ‘baby faced assassin’
