Hull City vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Marcus Rashford scored deep into injury time to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Hull City at the KC Stadium. Rashford had come off the bench to help inspire what had been a drab United attack. 

He profited from good work from Wayne Rooney late on to finish from close range and break Hull hearts. The hosts defended bravely, particularly in the second half, but ceded too much possession and were eventually punished.

United boss Jose Mourinho again left new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the bench, instead opting for a now familiar starting XI after two straight wins, per BT Sport Football:

The same source revealed that Abel Hernandez again led the Hull lineup up top:

It was a static first half, with Hull's five-man midfield denying space to a United side that lacked flair and pace in the final third. It didn't help that key figures were struggling to assert themselves, with Rooney chief among them.

The United No. 10 couldn't keep hold of the ball early on, as Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News pointed out:

United's lack of fluency could also be explained by some of the positions the team's main threats were taking up. In particular, central striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic often moved out of the spaces where he could do damage, per Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst:

Fellow MEN staffer Alice McKeegan picked up Luckhurst's point about United's lack of pace and suggested how much one key player might have made a difference:

The Red Devils were struggling to click in attack, but they were at least resolute defensively. Impressive new centre-back Eric Bailly was corralling the hustle and bustle of Hernandez, while fellow central defender Daley Blind was making smart decisions.

United's miserly streak owed a lot to Mourinho's coaching, as Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News explained:

Mourinho's men showed more application going forward at the start of the second half but still lacked class in the final third. Ibrahimovic continued to drop off and try to pick out runners, but his radar was a little off, while the timing of the runs wasn't quite there.

Mourinho eventually made the move to introduce Mkhitaryan. The game needed the Armenian's vision and guile. He replaced a worryingly ineffectual Anthony Martial, who has not enjoyed a good start to the season.

Rashford soon entered for a quiet Juan Mata, as Mourinho looked to add more spark and thrust to the United forward line.

Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Yet, it was Hull who nearly broke the deadlock when Tom Huddlestone's long-range drive took a wicked deflection before whistling an inch past the post and a stranded David De Gea. Huddlestone then shot over from the ensuing corner.

At the other end, Rashford showed off the direct threat United had been missing when his run from the inside left Hull defenders trailing. However, Eldin Jakupovic pushed Rashford's side-foot strike aside.

Jakupovic was brilliant again to turn behind another deflected shot moments later. Second earlier, a magnificent block from Curtis Davis denied Mkhitaryan, who perhaps took a fraction too long before shooting.

BBC Match of the Day accurately depicted the pattern of the game:

Squawka emphasised the point about United's dominance during the second half:

The attack-against-defence battle eventually went United's way when Rooney teed up Rashford for the late winner. It was harsh on Hull, but United has been doing all the pressing and have now made it nine points out of nine to start the season.

It means United have made a great start toward achieving Mourinho's primary focus this season, a focus he spelled out clearly after the match, per Squawka News:

Yet, Mourinho also insisted his early season pace-setters are still trying to find some consistency, a process likely to go on for a while:

Major investment has been the backbone of Mourinho's United rebuild so far. However, he insists the spending has now finished for this summer:

Having players like Rashford come off the bench speaks volumes about the current strength of United's squad. The 18-year-old revealed how he's benefiting from some of United's new arrivals:

Hull's stand-in boss Mike Phelan doesn't have such lofty objectives. He was suitably philosophical in defeat and content to still take heart from what's been a surprisingly strong start to the season, per the Premier League's official site:

While Hull have defied expectations, United are merely living up to theirs. Mourinho has splashed the cash to quickly retool the spine of this team, one that has already mastered the priceless art of winning ugly.