Manchester United ended a run of three successive losses and eased the concerns surrounding manager Jose Mourinho with a comfortable EFL Cup win at League One Northampton Town.
Mourinho could not afford any mistakes in this third-round tie after Premier League defeats by Manchester City and Watford, with a Europa League loss to Feyenoord sandwiched in between.
It was eventually smooth passage, assisted by Northampton keeper Adam Smith, who endured a nightmare evening and played a big part in two of United’s goals.
The highly rated 23-year-old picked up a back pass in the 17th minute and when Wayne Rooney’s resulting free-kick was blocked, the recalled Michael Carrick fired home the loose ball emphatically.
Alex Revell gave the Cobblers hope of a shock from the penalty spot just before half-time after Daley Blind fouled Sam Hoskins – but this was not the night for an upset.
United regrouped and Ander Herrera’s powerful drive put them in front after 68 minutes before Smith’s misery was complete seven minutes later when he missed a simple long clearance to allow substitute Marcus Rashford to roll the ball into an empty net, reports the BBC.
Jose Mourinho has been reluctant to use the 35-year-old England midfield man since his arrival at Old Trafford. This was his first start since Manchester United’s win against Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.
On this evidence he surely has a strong case to force his way into Mourinho’s plans – not least because he possesses the style and composure to bring the best from United’s £89m world record signing Paul Pogba.
Pogba has looked restricted in his early performances and the selection of Carrick, so reliable in possession and even chipping in with a goal here, would allow the France midfield man freedom, play to his strengths and give him the opportunity to do damage further forward.
Carrick’s experience and expert reading of the game adds to Mourinho’s options and could finally bring the best from his showpiece summer signing. Surely he will start against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
As Pogba got the night off and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rashford started on the bench with Mourinho making nine changes from United’s 3-1 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road, there was no respite for Rooney.
United’s embattled captain, who has bore the brunt of much of the criticism aimed at the side this season, was in the starting line-up but endured another night of frustration.
He worked hard but nothing is coming off for the 30-year-old. He missed one easy chance early on and when he did hit the target after Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s header hit the bar, he was adjudged offside.
With Carrick and Herrera excelling and with a host of attacking options available to Mourinho, will Rooney’s place come under threat against Leicester City at Old Trafford at the weekend?
And Vincent Kompany suffered an injury scare on his return as Manchester City eased past Swansea in the EFL Cup.
Kompany – back after a five-month injury lay-off – left the field by his own choice in injury time after City had made all three substitutions.
Gael Clichy’s fourth goal in English football had put City in charge before Aleix Garcia swept home a second.
Swansea’s record signing Borja Baston missed several chances before Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late consolation.
Belgian centre-back Kompany sat out Euro 2016 and had not played since injury forced him off in City’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid on 4 May.
“The doctors are speaking with him, but hopefully it is not a big, big problem,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
“I don’t yet have the opinion of my staff. I saw Vincent go to the locker room, but hopefully it is not a very big problem.”
Both sides rang the changes for this game but City showed they have the depth to compete in all competitions – despite Pep Guardiola scoffing at the notion of winning four trophies – with the likes of Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and John Stones restored by the Spaniard.
Swansea made eight changes themselves, and starts for the likes of Jay Fulton and defender Kyle Naughton, as a winger, gave their team an experimental look.
A close first half saw chances limited, but City surged ahead after the break through Clichy’s deflected goal and might have added to Garcia’s smart second after Jesus Navas’ pinpoint cross.
City twice came close to gifting the Swans a goal, but Borja was denied by Willy Caballero either side of half-time, before Sigurdsson’s late consolation effort from close range.
EFL CUP RESULTS
Fulham 1 – 2 Bristol City
Northampton 1 – 3 Man Utd
QPR 1 – 2 Sunderland
Southampton 2 – 0 Crystal Palace
Swansea 1 – 2 Man City
West Ham 1 – 0 Accrington
Stoke 1 – 2 Hull
Tottenham 5 – 0 Gillingham
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