After scouring the record books, we cannot find another instance of this happening since the league was formed in 1992.
It has occurred in other competitions, including the 6-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup, back in January 2020. Maguire scored then, with a belting shot, and Phil Jones, one of three at the back in the formation on the day, was also on the mark.
There was a 5-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, in 2013, when Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans netted but the former started at right-back.
Of course, searching into the old Division One, there will have been occasions when it did happen – including just after Christmas in 1983, during a 3-3 draw against Notts County at Old Trafford, both Gordon McQueen and Kevin Moran headed home from corners. This could well be the last time it happened in the league.
There are bound to be others in all competitions – Bruce and Gary Pallister both notched to help United to a 3-0 win over Wrexham in the home leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup tie during the successful run in 1990/91.
David Sadler said he played “just in front of the defence”, when he and Bill Foulkes were on target in the famous 3-3 draw away to Real Madrid in the 1968 European Cup semi-final.
