Manchester United collected a third straight win in the Premier League with a first-half Jadon Sancho goal giving them a 1-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Thursday. Sancho provided a cool finish, rounding keeper Danny Ward and slipping the ball home in the 23rd minute after being set up by Marcus Rashford from a Bruno Fernandes break down the right.

James Maddison went close for Leicester with a superb free-kick which brought an excellent save from United’s David De Gea but the home side struggled to create chances. After the break, United took few risks and lacked a cutting edge with manager Erik ten Hag deciding to bring on Cristiano Ronaldo in the 68th minute.

Ronaldo, who had been linked with a move away from the club during the transfer window, went close with a bicycle kick and added some life to United’s attack. Leicester had a late chance to level but full-back James Justin blasted high and wide from a promising position on the right as United collected back-to-back away victories. The win moves United up to fifth with nine points from five matches, six adrift of leaders Arsenal and four behind second-placed Manchester City.

Leicester stay bottom on one point. “It is another step forward so I am happy with that,” said Ten Hag. “We showed good team spirit. We had 11 players the on pitch who fought for each other and scored a lovely team goal. Still, there are improvements to make but that is normal at this stage of the season,” he added.