Manchester United finally got back to winning ways on Tuesday night, coming from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. 

The result ended a run of nine games without a victory and eased the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick.

The night began disastrously for the hosts. Roma were two goals up inside 18 minutes after United’s defending fell apart. Kobbie Mainoo was easily dispossessed in midfield, and the visitors found Matias Soule in acres of space with Diogo Dalot caught high up the pitch.

The Argentine finished calmly past Senne Lammens. Soon after, Harry Maguire’s poor clearance was seized on by Soule, whose shot was blocked by the arm of Ayden Heaven, and Donyell Malen converted the resulting penalty.

The mood inside the stadium soured further. United supporters staged a planned protest against the Glazer family in the 21st minute, with green and gold balloons filling the Stretford End and tennis balls thrown onto the pitch. There were also chants against Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Jason Wilcox. By half-time the crowd’s boos had turned to an uneasy silence.

The second half was a different story. Just before the hour mark, Matheus Cunha went down in the box and won a penalty that looked dubious. Bruno Fernandes saw his effort saved by Roma’s debutant goalkeeper, Devis Vasquez, but a retake was ordered for encroachment, and Fernandes converted at the second attempt to restore hope. Roma did not register a single shot after the break, and United pushed on.

The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute, when Cunha pounced on a mistimed clearance from Leonardo Balerdi to equalise. Three minutes later, he put United ahead. Teenage substitute Shea Lacey set him up, and the Brazilian drove a fierce strike past Vasquez at his near post. Cunha took off his shirt and leapt into the crowd to celebrate, earning a booking.

He was then shown a second yellow for a late tackle in stoppage time, which set up a nervy finish, but United held on.

It was United’s first win in 10 games, since their victory over Sabah, and it spared them their worst run since the 1984-85 season. Carrick had made changes beforehand, dropping Lisandro Martinez to the bench after his poor display against Chelsea and handing Mainoo his first start in almost a month.

There was a setback, though, as Carlos Baleba pulled up clutching his hamstring in the second half and had to be substituted. The midfielder arrived at the club carrying a knock and could now face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Elsewhere in the competition on Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain hammered Villarreal 6-0 away, having raced into a 4-0 lead inside 16 minutes. Barcelona beat previously unbeaten Aston Villa 3-0 at the Camp Nou, while Bayern Munich won 2-0 away at Atletico Madrid. Inter Milan thrashed Feyenoord 3-0 in Rotterdam, Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0, and Sporting edged Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0. Bodø/Glimt and Lille played out a goalless draw.

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