Leeds make history in rare Old Trafford win but the real loser isn’t Man Utd

A terrible night for a relegation-threatened team who play in white. Although that team, admittedly, is Tottenham Hotspur . For Leeds United , this was a seminal, spectacular evening; a historic one, too, though even the significance of a first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 felt less immediate that the growing possibility they will stay up.

But for Michael Carrick and Manchester United , even a rousing attempt at a rescue act could not alter the combination of a wretched first half and a dreadful result. It was compounded by the consequences, with Lisandro Martinez ’s comeback short-lived as he was sent off for grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair . Just when it seemed they were certainties to qualify for the Champions League , Manchester United contrived to inject an element of doubt.

Carrick lost his 100 percent record at Old Trafford as United manager. The danger is the favourite to become the permanent manager loses rather more than that. Carrick was an unused substitute for Leeds’ previous win at Old Trafford in 2010.

This, however, was a first league victory on enemy turf in 45 years and Noah Okafor can now join Brian Flynn in Leeds folklore. The summer signing’s volleyed double was his first brace for Leeds. The goals came in a pair for this particular Noah, perhaps changing the arc of each United’s fortunes.