'Penalty box predator' Ighalo has done what Solskjaer demanded
For half an hour at Pride Park Manchester United simply couldn't get Odion Ighalo in the game. While Jesse Lingard, Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata rotated at will behind him, they couldn't find a way to supply the Nigerian striker.
But then, like all good strikers, he came alive. First he latched on to Scott McTominay's pass and forced Kelle Roos into his first proper save. Then Luke Shaw's barrelling ended with him picking a smart pass to Ighalo, who looked to have seen his route to goal blocked before suddenly finding space to prod a shot beyond the Derby goalkeeper. It's a goal that won't be winning any awards, but it's exactly the type of scrappy strike that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to see from his team and just for good measure he repeated the trick in the second half.
Solskjaer touched on that very subject as far back as August. While Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford can often conjure up something out of nothing, they aren't penalty box predators.
“I do like the one who scores scrappy goals in and around the box – a young Ole or something,” Solskjær said, referring to himself. “It doesn't have to be a 1.95 [metre] centre-forward. It could be sometimes if we want to play with two up, maybe a different type to what we have.”
In Ighalo United now have that. He might not be the long-term solution in that role but he's doing the job this season. His expected goals (xG) return shows how chances are coming his way. It was 0.21 in just four minutes at Chelsea, 0.3 in 14 minutes against Watford and 0.81 in 22 minutes against Everton. In the only game he's started it was 1.24 against Club Brugge.
A return of three goals already is good for Ighalo and the underlying numbers suggest there could be more to come. He's allowing Solskjaer to rest Martial and giving United a different option in attack.
But then, like all good strikers, he came alive. First he latched on to Scott McTominay's pass and forced Kelle Roos into his first proper save. Then Luke Shaw's barrelling ended with him picking a smart pass to Ighalo, who looked to have seen his route to goal blocked before suddenly finding space to prod a shot beyond the Derby goalkeeper. It's a goal that won't be winning any awards, but it's exactly the type of scrappy strike that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to see from his team and just for good measure he repeated the trick in the second half.
Solskjaer touched on that very subject as far back as August. While Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford can often conjure up something out of nothing, they aren't penalty box predators.
“I do like the one who scores scrappy goals in and around the box – a young Ole or something,” Solskjær said, referring to himself. “It doesn't have to be a 1.95 [metre] centre-forward. It could be sometimes if we want to play with two up, maybe a different type to what we have.”
In Ighalo United now have that. He might not be the long-term solution in that role but he's doing the job this season. His expected goals (xG) return shows how chances are coming his way. It was 0.21 in just four minutes at Chelsea, 0.3 in 14 minutes against Watford and 0.81 in 22 minutes against Everton. In the only game he's started it was 1.24 against Club Brugge.
A return of three goals already is good for Ighalo and the underlying numbers suggest there could be more to come. He's allowing Solskjaer to rest Martial and giving United a different option in attack.
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