Manchester United got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a gutsy 4-2 success against bottom side Sheffield United, twice coming from behind against the Blades at Old Trafford.

It was another dramatic game involving United and goals from Jayden Bogle and Ben Brereton Diaz threatened another upset and another difficult night for Erik ten Hag.

But the hosts were the better side throughout and Harry Maguire equalised within seven minutes in the first half and Bruno Fernandes levelled from the spot 11 minutes after Brereton Diaz's early goal in the second half. Fernandes then put them ahead for the first time after 81 minutes and Rasmus Hojlund's first goal since February 18 secured a first league win since March 9.

With Newcastle losing the win moved United back into sixth place and a Europa League qualifying spot and on Saturday they will aim to land back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid-February.

Two leaders stand up

There were times during the summer when it felt unlikely that Harry Maguire would remain at Manchester United for this season, never mind end up as the most used centre-back at the club.

That that only amounts to 20 Premier League starts out of 33 games says more about the constant injury crisis at the back than anything else, but Maguire is also emerging from a season in which he could have been playing for West Ham United rather than Manchester United with plenty of credit.

Back in September, he was still the butt of jokes every time he was called upon. His introduction in the defeat at Arsenal at the start of that month was mocked by the home fans. The laughter has stopped now. He has been good for Erik ten Hag all season and surely has a role to play in this squad next season.

Unless United win the FA Cup this isn't going to be a season remembered fondly at Old Trafford, but Maguire has been one of the better players. He certainly deserves to be in the case for the Player of the Season award, although it is surely Bruno Fernandes who will land that honour.

You could argue Maguire could have been more proactive in stopping Ben Brereton Diaz's goal, but he's not alone there and it is clearly a structural problem. In the plus column, he defended well one-against-one, scored the first equaliser and caused so many problems in the area for the second that he won a penalty.

Fernandes converted that penalty and then got the goal that broke Sheffield United's resistance. He has raised his game in recent weeks and in a difficult season, it is no surprise that United's current captain and former captain are standing tall.

The cut-back conundrum

United have made a habit of conceding goals from cut-backs this season and they did so again against Sheffield United. It's a problem that simply won't go away.

They lost possession in a defensive area and while the Blades worked the ball well, when Ben Osborn cut it back towards the penalty spot, the entire United back four had dropped into the six-yard box to protect the goal. Brereton Diaz stayed out and could apply a first-time finish from eight yards, stabbing the ball past Andre Onana.

It was a familiar scene, with the forward knowing that he could just let United's defence drop towards the goal, while the midfielders wouldn't fill the space. They are giving up chances through this move too often this season and it's another example of a simple problem not being fixed on the training ground.

There were nine United players in the penalty area when Brereton Diaz scored, but not one of them was within a couple of yards of the goalscorer. It's not good enough.

Another act of self-harm

It's probably for the best Ten Hag doesn't have any hair. Having despaired at his team for conceding goals in gluts and throwing away leads this season, on Wednesday he had to watch his goalkeeper make a basic mistake at a time when his side were dominant.

United had enjoyed 83% of the possession and had 11 shots to two when Onana tried to restart play by passing to Diogo Dalot wide on the left. The pass didn't have enough on it and Jayden Bogle pounced, racing in on goal and finishing well.

It was a poor decision from Onana, with Dalot dropping deep and wide to try and offer an angle for a pass, but Bogle continued to track him and make sure it wasn't on. The goalkeeper had enough time to keep the ball instead, turning back to assess his options.

It was the kind of self-inflicted wound that United have made a hallmark of this season. It came at a time when they were on top in the game and is the kind of error they have to eradicate if they are to go to another level.

What does Amad have to do?

For some critics the most galling aspect of Antony's goading of the Coventry players on Sunday was that he had contributed almost nothing to United's performance at Wembley. He was anonymous again after coming on and didn't deserve to start ahead of Amad on Wednesday.

That he was hooked before the hour mark when United were losing said it all. This is an £85million winger who just isn't delivering enough on the pitch, although offloading him will be virtually impossible after his performances.

Amad was bright when he came on at Wembley, just as he was against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, and he clearly deserves to be playing ahead of United's much more expensive right-winger.

A proud night

With United's late show of power blunting the Blades, it allowed Ten Hag to give Ethan Wheatley his place in the club's history books. The chances of a 250th academy graduate making their debut for the first team have improved with the injuries picked up recently and with a two-goal cushion in the bag, striker Wheatley got the nod.

It's been a memorable 24 hours for the 18-year-old, who scored both goals against Manchester City in the Under-18 Premier League Cup triumph at Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday and then made sure his name will forever be linked with United's academy on Wednesday.