Reserves deserve big crowds

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists his Reserves play the kind of football that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

In recent seasons, the Reds’ second string have been used to playing in front of just a few hundred people in home games at the Marston’s Arena in Northwich.

After watching his side emerge unbeaten from a thrilling nine-game pre-season campaign, however, Solskjaer is hopeful that Thursday’s season opener against Blackburn will be watched by a bigger crowd eager for glimpses of the Reds' talented youngsters.

“I think they deserve a big crowd because they play such nice, attacking football,” he told ManUtd.com. "We play the way football should be; attacking, through the middle with everyone involved.

“We’ve had so much positive feedback from the clubs we’ve played against so far. It’s great for us as a club and for me and Warren (Joyce) as coaches, to know that our players are conducting themselves as we want them to.

“So they do deserve a good crowd. Blackburn started the season really well - they won 5-1 in their first game - so they’re a good team as well. It’ll be a good, interesting game.”

Reserves midfielders Tom Cleverley and Danny Drinkwater admit they – and the rest of United’s second string - would relish the chance to play in front of more spectators.

“I remember in the FA Youth Cup a couple of years ago we played against Arsenal at the Emirates,” said Drinkwater. “We were in front of a crowd of around 30,000 or something ridiculously high, and that was absolutely class.”