JESSE LINGARD WAS at the double as Manchester United bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 defeat of Swansea City in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The 24-year-old produced a pair of clinical finishes either side of half-time as Jose Mourinho’s men issued a composed response to their shock Premier League loss against Huddersfield Town.
Both teams rung the changes from their respective weekend defeats, although Victor Lindelof was promoted to the starting XI, despite a shaky display as a first-half substitute at the John Smith’s Stadium.
In truth, the Swede was rarely tested by a Swansea side perhaps focused more on their upcoming Premier League trip to Arsenal.
Lingard, who scored in the final as the Red Devils won this competition last season, quickly put any nerves to bed by coolly slotting away the opener after 21 minutes.
And the winger capped a comfortable return to type for the reigning champions just prior to the hour, sealing a quarter-final berth and getting Mourinho’s men back on track ahead of a visit from Tottenham.
Shifting to a 3-5-2 system, Mourinho handed starts to youngsters Axel Tuanzebe and Scott McTominay as two of seven changes to the team which was stunned on Saturday.
The visitors found early fluency despite the adjustments as Chris Smalling nodded wide from a corner inside two minutes, before Kristoffer Nordfeldt tipped over a rising Lingard shot.
England international Lingard went one better in the 21st minute when, put clean through on goal by a delightful Marcus Rashford flick-on, he unerringly side-footed into the bottom right corner.
Swansea did come close to a fortuitous equaliser on the half-hour with Daley Blind’s unconvincing header ricocheting past the post off Oliver McBurnie.
Instead, Paul Clement’s side suffered another setback as Martin Olsson was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury before half-time.
United were content to take the sting out of any potential comeback by soaking up possession in the lead up to the hour.
And their plans paid dividends as Lingard again ghosted through the heart of Swansea’s defence and clinically headed home Matteo Darmian’s superb right-sided cross.
The winger could well have completed his hat-trick in quick time, but fired across the face of goal from a narrow angle following McTominay’s clever pass.
Swansea’s angst would hardly have been helped by the introduction of Romelu Lukaku, although they did receive a let-off when Tuanzebe poked over the bar from close-range.
Elsewhere in the Carabao Cup, Callum Wilson ended a nine-month injury absence by providing a goal and an assist in Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Meanwhile Leicester City enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Leeds United at the King Power Stadium, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez on target for the winners.
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The organisers have ruined this competition. I’m delighted a French team have been given the same treatment as Leinster but it still doesn’t make it right.
Happy for Connacht though.
@Clark: what would you do though? Or what exactly can be done, considering the pandemic
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: play the feckin tie with players that have tested negative today. Same as should have been done with Leinster, we had a negative match day ready to go. These outbreaks will come and go, those players that are vaccinated and also negative on the day should be allowed play on.
You mean Testdemic.
@Clark: Agrred. These 28 :0 wins were never any good in situations where no one is at fault. Whoever came up with that should be fired on the spot! 1D10TS
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: think the point is, some games 28-0 and others 0-0.. how can that be‽?
@Eoin Roche: where you saying the same when Toulon had a match day 23 all test negative, yet the game was awarded to Leinster?
@Karl Mc Cauley: Thats easy, some games were cancalled due to covid outbreaks (which EPRC legistrates for) and awarded 28-0, and some were cancelled due to travel restrictions (which isnt legislatiled for) so were given as draws.
I didn’t see LNR say anything about it being a scandalous decision when Montpellier were handed a 28-0 win against Leinster
Well deserved, a justification for the brand of rugby they promote.
It’s a total anticlimax of a way for us to make the knockouts, but reaching the knockouts this year, is not near the same as reaching it when there’s only 8 teams, and there’s been a fair and equal group stage. However it’s still great to make it to the last 16, the aim now has to be to make sure we can put our best foot forward, and target further progression in the competition. Have to say I always liked Toulouse, but it’s totally hilarious to see the reaction from both Toulouse and the LNR. One thing to note is how the URC never came in to back Scarlets, Ospreys or Leinster when they got shafted.
@Patrick Breen: good point re the URC… And regarding getting through, its a topsy turvy year, take what you can get, and I bet there will be a great buzz in Connacht now going into this last game regardless.
@SPQH: enjoy it. Get to a semi snd earn the buzz
There’ll be no easy games in the last 16 but I’d like to avoid Racing and Leinster, Exeter and Le Rochelle also if I’m making wish-list
@mike ryan: I think they will be hoping to avoid us as well. A good win tomorrow should give us a home draw, which means we should avoid the likes of the teams you’re talking about.
@Donal McCarthy: actually, just had another look at the table, we need Scarlets to beat Bristol for that to happen. Unlikely
Castres will regret no going full guns last week, but then again they didn’t seem to be too bothered
@Scott Crossfield: I don’t think they give a daam, they’ve always been a bit of a disappointment in Europe, a bit like Montpellier.
@Scott Crossfield: if castres and wasps win toulouse go out.
@Scott Crossfield: Castes have been absolutley ridden by the Mike Addission and his team. The officals have a lot to answer for forward passes by quinns sealing off penalties not given. The last 20 miniutes of reffing was a disgrace
I had my doubts about this years H Cup when I first saw the format. But now………….. meh.
Leicester given a walkover too.
All done in trying to justify the unfair treatment of Leinster. 2 wrongs don’t make a right
More 28 nil BS.