Football League Cup Third Round
Northampton Town vs. Manchester United
Venue: Sixfields
Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Manchester United progressed through to the next round of the League Cup with a 3-1 victory away at Northampton Town.
Michael Carrick opened the scoring with a precise finish before Alex Revell’s penalty levelled proceedings before the break.
Ander Herrera restored the lead midway through the second half, as Marcus Rashford off the bench put to bed any lingering doubts of extra-time or a fourth straight defeat.
Keeping his place from the weekend loss, Wayne Rooney saw a shot held before fluffing his lines from Ashley Young’s low cross early on.
As the ball was played back to Adam Smith, the Cobblers goalkeeper picked the ball up only for an indirect free-kick to be awarded for a back pass, and despite Rooney’s attempt striking the wall, Carrick found the top corner from the rebound.
It could’ve been two, as Morgan Schneiderlin’s diagonal cross saw Timothy Fosu-Mensah rattle the crossbar with a header, with Rooney’s headed follow-up ruled out for offside.
As the hosts grew into the game, Kenji Gorre, on loan from Swansea City, clipped the bar via a left-footed effort, but they did draw level moments later.
Failing to clear their lines, Daley Blind’s lunge resulted in the Dutchman tripping Sam Hoskins, and Revell sent Romero the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick, placing his penalty into the bottom right-hand corner as half-time arrived at Sixfields.
Midfielder Jak McCourt was lucky to escape a red card for a horrific challenge on Memphis, as the latter saw a shot held before Herrera crashed a shot against the post with his weaker left foot.
The Spaniard did get on the scoresheet, however, as Schneiderlin’s interception and through ball allowed Rashford to tee up Herrera, and his first time finish was kept low and found the back of the net.
Proving why he should be a regular, it was his long ball up field that set Rashford up for the chase, and with the ball’s bounce forcing a misjudgement from Smith, Rashford’s challenge allowed him to finish into an empty net and seal the tie.
Substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw a header held from Rooney’s cross inside stoppage time, as United booked their place in the fourth round.
Impressive performances from Carrick and Herrera should give Jose Mourinho much to ponder ahead of the weekend’s visit of Champions Leicester City.
That Premier League game kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday at Old Trafford, as United will look to bounce back from two consecutive league defeats and build on tonight’s confidence booster.
Line-ups:
Manchester United: Romero; Fosu-Mensah (Rashford 55), Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schneiderlin (Fellaini 73), Carrick; Young, Herrera, Memphis (Ibrahimovic 55); Rooney.
Subs not used: Johnstone, Darmian, Mata, Lingard.
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Northampton Town: Smith; Moloney, Diamond, Zakuani, Buchanan; McCourt (Richards 72); Hoskins, Beautyman (O’Toole 54), Taylor, Gorre (Potter 65); Revell.
Subs not used: Cornell, Byrom, Sonupe, Nyatanga.
Manager: Rob Page