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• Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans

  Jonny Evans is convinced Manchester United have a “good thing going” under Erik ten Hag despite their shaky start to the season.

  Things have gone awry after a promising first campaign under the Dutchman, with the Red Devils losing four of their first six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986.

  There were some mitigating factors in that poor run but that did not stop the pressure mounting on the Old Trafford giants heading into Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Burnley.

  Ten Hag’s troops were far from their best but Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant volley secured a 1-0 win for a side that begin their Carabao Cup defence at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

  Evans watched February’s Wembley triumph from the stands and is now back at the club he came through at as a boy, with the experienced defender confident about United’s future.

  “I’ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,” said the defender, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League during his previous spell at the club.

  “I think you get that if you want to be at the top. You know, it’s going to be very up and down.

  “You’ve got to be able to deal with setbacks and this club is a fantastic club, always want to be challenging at the top, so it’s all part and parcel of it.

  “The manager’s got a good thing going here.

  “I’m a fan of the club so I was able to watch them a lot last year, been at both finals to support. Like I say, I think the manager’s got a good thing going.”

  Evans made his second appearance of the season and first United start in eight-and-a-half years on Saturday evening.

  The 35-year-old impressed against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, scoring a goal that was disallowed before providing an exceptional pass for Fernandes’ volleyed winner.

  “That was great,” the beaming Northern Irishman said after his 200th United appearance. “I was really looking forward to it all day.

  “I got the shout yesterday in training that I was going to be starting, so I couldn’t wait for the game, really.

  “I was more nervous in the pre-season, my first pre-season game, to be honest, playing up in Edinburgh.

  “I didn’t feel any nerves tonight. I actually felt a lot of excitement going into the game. I couldn’t wait for it and I felt good, I felt ready.”

  Evans produced an impressive all-round display at Turf Moor, leading captain Fernandes to pass on the man of the match award that he had been handed.

  The centre-back joked it was just the third of a career he never expected to return to such heights having left Leicester on the back of relegation and an injury-hit campaign.

  Asked if he ever thought he would get back to this level, Evans immediately responded: “No, definitely not.

  “It’s not a case of winding down. I think people’s career trajectories kind of end up that way and it’s very difficult for a club when you’re 35 years old to take a chance on you.

  “I had a lot of injury problems last year as well, so for the club to do that and see the value in me, I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity.

  “On one side it feels really surreal and then on the other side it just feels completely normal.

  “It’s quite difficult to get my head around sometimes, but I’m loving it.

  “For a 35-year-old I suppose to come back in – they wanted me to come back in and provide cover – not many people get to do that.

  “I know it’s going be a big challenge but hopefully it’s one that I can take on.

  “I feel like it’s one that was perfect for me at this stage of my career.”

• Hull ease to 3-1 win at Stoke to climb into Championship play-off places

  Hull extended their unbeaten run to seven league games with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Stoke.

  The Tigers leapt back into the play-off places thanks mainly to a quickfire double after the half-hour mark.

  Aaron Connolly opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season after good work from former Potters loanee Jaden Philogene.

  And the shell-shocked hosts fell further behind a matter of seconds after the restart when Adama Traore notched his first goal since April.

  Regan Slater’s shot led to a Lynden Gooch own goal in the second half as Hull coasted towards a third successive Championship away victory for the first time since April 2013.

  Stoke notched a late consolation through the returning Andre Vidigal, but he could not prevent their winless run stretching to five league games.

  The tone for the home side was set inside 13 minutes as Tyrese Campbell limped off to add to the Potters’ injury woes.

  Despite their early setback, the first clear chance fell to Stoke but Daniel Johnson dragged his effort wide in what would prove to be a costly miss.

  At the opposite end, Philogene – who spent six months in the Potteries in 2022 – overpowered Ben Wilmot to tee up Connolly for a simple finish as Hull took the lead.

  And the bright Connolly was instrumental as the Tigers raced to double their advantage almost immediately after the restart.

  The Republic of Ireland forward advanced dangerously from goalkeeper Ryan Allsop’s long pass and his blocked strike popped up invitingly for Traore, who drilled a first-time effort on the swivel into the corner.

  Vidigal, who had missed a month through injury, tried to rouse a comeback with his free-kick forcing a stop from Allsop.

  Yet Stoke nearly fell further behind in a calamitous first half when a downward Connolly header was cleared off the line by an alert Johnson.

  Sead Haksabanovic, like Vidigal minutes earlier, came close to halving the hosts’ arrears from a free-kick but again Allsop was on hand to save.

  And it was a similar story after the interval with the Hull stopper twice thwarting Wesley, with the second a miraculous instinct save from point-blank range.

  The visitors took advantage and soon added a third with a long-range Slater strike deflecting off Gooch and looping over a helpless Mark Travers.

  The Potters’ shining light Vidigal then offered his side a lifeline as he marked his return with a fifth goal of the season.

  After skipping beyond the challenge of Jacob Greaves, the Portuguese forward finished accurately low into Allsop’s far corner, but it was too little, too late.

  Stoke searched desperately for a late reprieve, but Hull held on for a first league victory in the Potteries since January 2006.

• Diogo Dalot: Last fortnight another normal killing machine against Man United

  Diogo Dalot described the recent external scrutiny and criticism of Manchester United as a “killing machine” after Erik ten Hag’s side secured a return to winning ways at Burnley.

  The Red Devils have been under the microscope off the field as well as on it at the start of the campaign, having lost four of their opening six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986.

  The heat was on as absentee-hit United headed to promoted Burnley on Saturday evening, when Bruno Fernandes’ fantastic volley on the stroke of half-time secured a much-needed 1-0 victory.

  “We are playing for Man United,” right-back Dalot said. “We have to be consistent in every game because they will kill you in every direction that they can if you don’t win games.

  “And you could see this last couple of weeks, it was another normal killing machine against us, but we fought hard.

  “When we get into Carrington (training ground), the noise stays outside and we work hard.

  “And I think we were rewarded with these three points, but we want to keep going.”

  United were not entirely convincing against the winless Clarets, but it was a solid showing underpinned by clear togetherness and focus.

  “I think this was massively important,” Dalot told MUTV. “Apart from the three points, I think the clean sheet brings us a little bit of extra confidence to go to the next games.

  “We needed it after these last couple of games when we conceded a lot of goals and this has to build a foundation now for the next game.

  “I think today we showed a proper compact team, aggressively defending the box, everybody (supporting) each other.

  “Collectively we were very good. Everybody was speaking with each other, communication, aggressive on the front foot.

  “And I think that brings you confidence when you look to your mate and he’s giving everything for you.

  “You want to give everything for him as well. Today we came out to the pitch with that mentality.

  “I think this is the standard that we need to have for the rest of the season.”

  As for Burnley, their wait for a first win since returning to the Premier League continues.

  Vincent Kompany’s outfit showed flashes of quality during the narrow home loss and summer signing Aaron Ramsey is keen to build on that display.

  “We didn’t come out with three points, but I think that everyone can see a lot of positives that we can take from that, that we can take into the next game,” the 20-year-old said after making his Premier League start.

  “Hopefully the three points come soon but in the changing room all of us are taking as many positives as we can from it – and there’s quite a few.

  “It’s Manchester United and I think that we more than competed and hopefully next time we get the three points, but like I said loads and loads of positives from the game, and we can just build from that.”