X reacts as Man Utd hold off Luton fightback to close in on top four

Despite a strong run of recent results, Erik ten Hag previewed Manchester United’s trip to Luton Town on Sunday afternoon with a note of caution.

“I think it’s too quick to say we have turned a corner,” the Dutchman said. “We are not there yet.” A brace from Rasmus Hojlund inside the opening seven minutes suggested that Ten Hag’s apprehension was misplaced but he knows this group of players all too well.

Carlton Morris halved the deficit in the 14th minute to unnerve Luton’s lofty visitors. United waned and wobbled but held on to win 2-1, securing a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions – the club’s best run of form in 12 months.

Hojlund has been at the epicentre of this winning run and extended his personal hot streak by scoring in his sixth consecutive top-flight appearance. At just 21 years old, Hojlund is the youngest player to ever achieve such a feat in Premier League history and only the fourth to do so in United’s colours. Just 37 seconds had elapsed before Amari’i Bell scuffed the ball into Hojlund’s galloping stride, gifting the Dane an easy opener.

During the interminable goal drought which marked the start of his Premier League career, Hojlund seemed to be a shell of his former self. While in Austria with Sturm Graz, Hojlund’s manager Christian Ilzer described the striker as “a self-confident boy”. “He even seems cocky if you don’t know him.” That cockiness is coursing through Hojlund again.

Barely five minutes after his well-taken opener, Hojlund was at it again. Alejandro Garnacho’s effort was spinning wide when Hojlund adroitly flicked his chest at the ball, doubling his and United’s haul.

United appeared to be cruising towards an easy victory but that would be far too straightforward for this chaotic iteration of the Red Devils. Inside the opening 15 minutes, the former United academy graduate Tahith Chong was allowed to spin inside the box…