After 232 days the wait is over. Manchester United have an away win and so break a sequence that began after the heady March night at Paris Saint-Germain where a 3-1 victory swept them into the Champions League quarter-finals and all seemed so rosy under Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s management.

This win, courtesy of an Anthony Martial penalty, came in United’s third Europa League game and puts them in charge of Group L. They have seven points, three more than Partizan Belgrade, and are favourites to progress. Martial’s spot-kick came after the 19-year-old Brandon Williams proved too quick for Nemanja Miletic, who felled him. This was only the left-sided player’s second start and he drew high praise from Solskjær. “He is as brave as a lion, fearless, and is going to be a top player,” the manager said.

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The stadium had an old-school feel. Firefighters were stationed behind the goals in case of flares, a banner of Al Capone was displayed, and when the sides trotted out to warm up the visitors received raucous jeers.

It was certainly a memorable atmosphere in which the 18-year-old James Garner made his full debut. Sergio Romero was making a rare start in goal and his first action was to mis‑kick a Partizan long ball. In a cauldron of noise United looked to calm the opposition – and fans – by knocking the ball around, then roving down their left where Scott McTominay won a first corner.

The same player later missed a golden chance. Juan Mata swung in a free-kick and McTominay had Vladimir Stojkovic’s goal before him but the header was missed. United had to be careful because of the bursts of Takuma Asano. Phil Jones, Garner and McTominay all had to thwart the No 11. Garner was proving confident enough to spray passes wide from his holding berth, while also showing an adept reading of the game.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest James Garner was given a chance from the start. Photograph: Srđan Stevanović/Getty Images

Starhinja Pavlovic is an 18-year-old centre-back is considered a prospect and the way he took the ball from Jesse Lingard and glided infield as Partizan controlled proceedings at the half-hour illustrated why. When Zoran Tosic, once of United, unloaded at Romero’s goal it was a warning that United had become passive.

It did wake them. Suddenly Garner, Mata and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were combining and Lingard hit the keeper’s left post. But Partizan responded via a slick move that had Umar Sadiq firing a shot on to Romero’s left post.

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United were about to win the penalty and it derived from their best sequence. It ended with Williams proving he belongs at this level and, despite Sasa Zdjelar standing in front of Martial to put him off, he kept his cool.

The first act of the second half had Umar Sadiq making a mug of an underpar Harry Maguire near halfway and drawing a foul from Jones. This was close to the area but Bibras Natcho could not beat Romero with the free-kick.

Moments later Jones appeared to get away with a push on Seydouba Soumah – inside the area – and Xavier Estrada Fernández had clear sight but the referee awarded a goal-kick.

Soumah next gave Maguire another hounding, leaving him trailing and United, again, were lucky not to concede. Partizan were enjoying possession but lacked the killer edge.

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On the hour Solskjær took off Martial and Wan-Bissaka for Marcus Rashford and Daniel James, United moving from a back three to four. Now came two penalty appeals turned down by Fernández to Partizan fury. First, they believed Williams handled, then that Sadiq had been impeded but United escaped. They also did when a last-ditch Jones challenge conceded a corner despite an equaliser appearing favourite. Romero saved an Asano header before Maguire cleared the danger as Partizan ended the stronger side.

By the close this was a squeaky win yet a fitting result for United on a day when the club had held a ceremony on this pitch to remember the fallen of Munich.

Solskajer smiled when the 232-day away victory drought was put to him. “We have to get an away win in the league,” he said. The chance comes at Norwich on Sunday. Claim three points there and it would seal a satisfactory eight days for the manager and his team.