Picture: United fans unanimously agree on who saved their blushes vs fierce rivals on Sunday

Manchester United earned a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon. With a significant number of injuries and three players away at the Africa Cup of Nations, this result would normally have been considered a decent point. Nonetheless, Monday’s massive news that Ruben Amorim had been sacked by the club has made the match pale into insignificance by comparison. In what will be remembered as Amorim’s final game in charge, The Peoples Person asked its readers who they felt was the player of the match at Elland Road. Matheus Cunha The Brazilian has not always been at his best at Old Trafford, but nobody can doubt his effort and commitment to the cause. Cunha has scored three times in his last five matches and has taken on the responsibility of being his side’s main attacker in the absence of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount. He scored the equaliser against the Whites and also netted a wonderful volley in the first half that was ruled out. Cunha also hit the post in the final stages of the match. For that reason, 56% of supporters felt he was the Red Devils’ most vital player in the game. Lisandro Martinez Martinez has impressed since returning to full fitness and has been given the captain’s armband due to Fernandes’ injury. He put in another solid defensive display and was tasked with partnering the inexperienced Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro at the back. 14% felt that the Argentina international deserved to be nominated as man of the match. Joshua Zirkzee Interestingly, 13% of fans felt that Zirkzee should have been player of the match, despite coming on in the second half. He made an immediate impact, providing a sumptuous pass for Cunha’s goal, and his cross really should have been converted by Benjamin Sesko late on. The team looked much more fluid and coherent in attack following his introduction. Zirkzee appeared set to leave in January, but with Amorim’s sacking, he may decide to stay at the club to see if his fortunes can change under a new manager. Senne Lammens The biggest compliment anyone can pay Lammens is that the goalkeeping position at the club is rarely discussed anymore. With Andre Onana and occasionally Altay Bayindir, goalkeeping errors and uncertainty had dominated the narrative around the club. Since Lammens came into the team in October, this has not been the case. The Belgian went about his business as usual and made two or three smart stops to prevent Leeds from winning the match. For that reason, 8% of supporters felt he should have been the player of the match. Manuel Ugarte also put in a decent shift in midfield, and 3% of fans thought he was deserving of the accolade of being the best United player on the pitch. Finally, 6% of fans believed that someone else was the most important player on the pitch for the Red Devils. Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.