It was far from joyful but Manchester United have finally ended their away drought

The 1,500 travelling Manchester United fans finally had reason to smile as they were held behind in the stadium well after the final whistle of their side’s Europa League game against Partizan in Belgrade. Although the home team were serenaded by their own fans long after the end for their efforts in the loud, open venue where the Busby Babes played their last ever game in 1958, United had finally managed to win an away game at the 12th attempt. It was a stuttering, joyless performance from the English side and there was more entertainment to be found watching the home fans sing for 90 minutes, but United’s 1-0 victory courtesy of a first-half penalty from Anthony Martial ended their worst away run since 1979. Their previous away triumph was on a rainy Parisian Champions League night in March. This was on a warm late October evening following unseasonally warm Serbian weather. United’s stock has fallen since the spring, the worries of their vast fan base increased, but the win in difficult circumstances brought more positives after Sunday’s draw against Liverpool, chiefly the performance of full-back Brandon Williams, 19, who played to the left of Phil Jones, Harry Maguire and Marcos Rojo in defence. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team have played better, but after taking the lead against Wolves, Southampton, Rochdale, Arsenal and Liverpool only to squander the advantage, they at least held onto their lead. Dropped points have cost United dearly as they sit a scarcely believable 14th in the Premier League, but their position in the Europa League is brighter as they top the group with two wins and a draw. Victory in Belgrade was a worthy one, the timing of the goal key. The sell-out home crowd hadn’t stopped singing as half-time approached. With 40 minutes gone in their most eagerly anticipated game for years, they were starting to believe as Partizan Belgrade began to be the superior team. The Serbians hit the post through top-scorer Umar Sadiq after 41 minutes. The beat of the incessant songs increased and the firemen behind the goal were kept occupied picking up the constant streamers thrown from the home terraces. As they pushed for a breakthrough, Partizan looked faster and sharper than United, but from that pressure came a move of beauty. Receiving the ball from defence, Juan Mata, playing behind lone striker Anthony Martial, quickly swept the ball wide ahead of Williams. The teenager drove towards goal, as he has been doing so effectively for the under 23s all season, before slowing down and drawing a shove and then a trip from fellow full-back Nemanja Miletic which led to a penalty. It was the game’s decisive moment and Martial stepped up in front of the hostile crowd, one where frustration would turn to fury after a succession of correctly denied penalties for their team. Facing the curved terrace occupied by the Grobari – ‘the gravediggers’ – Martial sent goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic the wrong way. It was United’s first away goal since August. It’s November next week. The Frenchman, who looked short of the match practice in his first start since August, scored his third goal of the season. And how goals have been missed by this United side who had been unable to score more than one in any game since their season opener against Chelsea. United still have injuries to key players, chiefly Paul Pogba, and they’re playing with a 3-5-2 system where Solskjaer demands his full-backs push high. Partizan may be in a far weaker league and their average home attendances don't even hit four figures, but they were unbeaten at home in 11 European games and they were the better side for much of the game. That run has ended and United’s away drought has too. However, the latter need to do much more to convince fans, the performance of youngsters including midfielder James Garner on his first start and especially Williams encouraging. “Brandon [Williams] man of the match for me, absolutely excellent,” said Solskjaer. “Fantastic attitude, great defending, great in the air, gets us the pen by driving the ball forward, brave. We have found a left back there. “He’s been fantastic the few games he’s played. The boy has no fear, he is as brave as a lion and he got us the win. In games like these when we get the first goal, we need to learn when to get the second, when to get the third. “I thought today we had loads of opportunities to make sure we’re in a comfortable lead but we didn’t play that pass forward. But Brandon has an absolutely great attitude.” In Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Williams, United now have two young full-backs who make excellent recoveries. Williams is quick, he attacks, he’s strong and “he’s going to be a top, top player” said his manager. “Brandon was excellent for us,” added goalkeeper Sergio Romero. “He’s been training well, he’s got a lot to learn, but he’s a very talented player and one I think will be good enough to play in a good Man United side.”

It was far from joyful but Manchester United have finally ended their away drought

Win over Partizan Belgrade in Europa League their first on the road in 12 attempts