MANCHESTER UNITED have thrashed League One side Barnsley to progress to the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Marcus Rashford bagged the game’s opener with an emphatic finish on 16 minutes.
Antony made it 2-0 after firing a superb penalty past Chelsea loanee Gabriel Slonina.
Right on half time, Alejandro Garnacho got on the scoresheet for 3-0 to give United total control of the cup clash.
Just after the interval, the young Argentine doubled his tally for the evening to make it 4-0 to the hosts before Rashford scored his second for 5-0.
With 10 minutes to go, Christian Eriksen tapped in from close range to extend the Red Devils’ lead to 6-0 – and later, the midfielder became the third United player to bag a brace for 7-0.
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Match report
It is fair to say Alejandro Garnacho is back in Erik ten Hag’s good books.
Left out of the starting line-up for the first three games, he was recalled for the defeat against Liverpool only to be dropped again.
A ‘liking’ of an Instagram post quoting Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest rant about Ten Hag had probably not helped his cause as it made headlines and he was benched for the trip to Southampton.
But he was back on tonight and with a bang.
The 20-year-old Argentinian once again underlined why he is on a path to greatness at this club if he keeps his head down and keeps working.
With two goals and two assists in a 5-0 win he lit up Old Trafford.
On the way
Here’s the next four games for United.
Two tricky Premier League games on the horizon and the squad will be tested with European football on the horizon…
Ten Hag reacts
Erik ten Hag praised his side for their ‘100% concentration’ and says it was fun to watch his side playing.
He also stuck up for Marcus Rashford, insisting every time he plays the manager is confident he’ll score.
He told Sky Sports: “First of all it was a difficult start and they found their shape.
“But then we scored some good goals starting with Rashford, a great goal.
“We had the right attitude and they were 100% concentrated and we played very good.
“It was fun to watch and I think the fans liked and appreciated it. We gave them some nice goals.”
On Rashford, he added: “When he’s in the team, I’m calm and composed and confident he will score.
“Last season was difficult for everyone but we ended with a trophy. We want that again this year.”
Scores elsewhere
- Blackpool 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
- Brentford 3-1 Leyton Orient
- Everton 1-1 Southampton (5-6 on pens)
- Manchester United 7-0 Barnsley
- Preston 1-1 Fulham (16-15 on pens)
- QPR 1-2 Crystal Palace
- Stoke 1-1 Fleetwood (2-1 on pens)
Star man
Marcus Rashford was given the man of the match award for his display.
A goal at the weekend when operating off the left, two tonight when playing as the main central striker.
What does Erik ten Hag do with him this weekend?
Player ratings
Tonight’s Man Utd player ratings from SunSport’s Katherine Walsh.
- Altay Bayindir – 6
- Diogo Dalot – 6
- Harry Maguire – 6
- Jonny Evans – 6
- Toby Collyer – 5
- Casemiro – 6
- Manuel Ugarte – 6
- Antony – 7
- Christian Eriksen – 6
- Alejandro Garnacho – 8
- Marcus Rashford – 8
Read more to find out why they scored what they did.
One more
That’s actually the first time United have scored more than four in a game under Erik ten Hag.
Record breaking
It’s a night of records for Manchester United.
That 7-0 represents their biggest EVER win in the League Cup!
Not surprisingly it’s also Erik ten Hag’s biggest win as Manchester United manager.
And ten goals in a few days. Not bad.
Elsewhere
Preston have just beaten Fulham 16-15 on penalties in their game after a 1-1 draw.
A record in this competition for the longest ever!
16-15!
More records to come…
Immediate reaction
Marcus Rashford tells Sky Sports he hopes this is the start of a good run and season for him.
He said: “Football’s football, sometimes you have ups and sometimes you have downs.
“You have to use these games to find momentum and consistency and try your best to bring your best to each game.
“I hope it’s the start for me. We move onto the next game now.”
Match stats
Man Utd getting half of their 26 efforts at goal on target tonight.
Barnsley getting 0% of their three shots at goal on target tonight.
27 fouls conceded and only two bookings with one for dissent in the final couple of seconds. A different way of doing it I guess.
FT: Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
A bit of a Tuesday stroll in the end for United.
Barnsley couldn’t get close to them at all and were outplayed and bullied in every area of the park.
The front three of Rashford, Garnacho and Antony all scored before the break before the two former helped themselves to a second after the break.
Christian Eriksen got two of his own in the space of a few minutes late on as United put together their biggest ever win in this competition.
Reaction to come.
FT: Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
A super seven for Manchester United who cruise into the fourth round.
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
90+3. O’Keefe picks up a booking in final seconds after having a pop at the referee for a late decision.
Needless, but good to see the referee brought them out the house!
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
90+1. Smashing football in the middle of the park for United once again.
It’s worked to Fernandes who slides a great ball in behind for Amad to run clean through but his first touch is heavy and Barnsley manage to deal with this one.
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
Three minutes added
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
89. Smart save from Slonina this time as Zirkzee is sent into the box.
He swivels and strikes hard and low across the keeper who gets down well to keep it out.
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
87. Antony slips just as he’s winding up a shot from the edge of the box.
His right-footed attempt hits a defender and the League One side scramble it away.
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley
85. Still plenty time yet….
Clever, one-touch football around the Barnsley box as Fernandes plays a clever one-two with Zirkzee.
He then lays it into Eriksen’s path looking for another one-two but Eriksen says thanks very much, curling a first-time finish into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
Terrific finish after a good move. Starting to get really quite embarrassing for the visitors, unfortunately for them.
NONE FOR 13 MONTHS – TWO IN THREE MINUTES!
Man Utd 6-0 Barnsley
84. United change for the final five minutes.
- OFF: Garnacho
- ON: Amad
Man Utd 6-0 Barnsley
83. Zirkzee thinks he’s won a corner and there’s plenty of moans around when a goal kick is given.
Maybe some pity from the officials.
Man Utd 6-0 Barnsley
81. Eriksen’s first goal in 13 months for United!
He starts it with a neat touch 25 yards from goal and then continues his run, darting into the area.
It’s worked out to Fernandes on the left side of the area. He slides a clever pass into Eriksen’s path and the Barnsley midfielders let him run and the Dane casually side-foots a finish above Slonina to make it six.
A good training ground move!
BARNSLEY HIT FOR SIX!
Man Utd 5-0 Barnsley
78. Zirkzee with a snap-shot from just inside the area.
He’s around 17 yards out when hitting it with his left foot, sending it around 17 yards wide.
Change for the home side:
- OFF: Evans
- ON: De Ligt
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
