Ayden Heaven certainly did Manchester United no favours as Hull City took an unlikely lead on home turf against Michael Carrick’s men.
But there’s an argument to be made that the teenager was hardly helped out by his defensive partner in the first half, Harry Maguire, who failed to make much of an impact as far as the Tigers’ incisive set pieces were concerned.
Two set-piece situations – a corner and a free-kick – and two goals for the hosts at the MKM Stadium. A lot for the Red Devils to do in the next 45.
Manchester United’s centre-back partnership looks limp vs Hull City
If there’s any sympathy to be had with United, it’s that they are the first to come up against Sergej Jakirovic’s men in the English top-flight.
But let’s be honest, it’s an extremely poor showing in comparison to what reigning Premier League champions Arsenal delivered against fellow newly promoted outfit Coventry City on Friday (albeit at the Emirates).
Heaven, certainly, gave the hosts plenty of encouragement after being spotted switching off before Semi Ajayi steered Hull City into the lead in the first half.
Okay… a lapse in concentration, which can happen with such a young footballer. But then you’d almost hope for an example to be set by the teenager’s infinitely more experienced (not to mention supposedly strong in the air) centre-back partner, Maguire.
Yet, the stats indicate that the England international put up an even worse showing against the ball.
🚨🏴 NOBEL MENDY DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR HULL CITY! 🤯
Hull City 2-0 Manchester United.https://t.co/0GXCzsdTWmpic.twitter.com/zffgV1QkN4
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) August 22, 2026
What do the stats have to say about Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven?
It’s not a pretty picture, judging by Fotmob’s view of the situation as things currently stand in East Yorkshire.
Harry Maguire’s stats Ayden Heaven’s stats
0/1 aerial duels won 1/5 aerial duels won
0 ground duels contested 2/4 ground duels won
3 defensive contributions 2 defensive contributions
2 headed clearances 1 headed clearance
* Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven’s stats in the first half vs Hull City (Fotmob)
That has to be alarming reading for Michael Carrick at the half-time break.
Certainly, you’d have to expect that the message going out to Hull City’s players at the break will be to keep attempting to punish the visitors from dead-ball situations, given that their backline seems incapable of imposing itself in the air.
It’s all well and good for United to potentially conjure some goalscoring opportunities from open play. However, at the minute, Senne Lammens is being left totally exposed in goa
