MANCHESTER UNITED MADE Manchester United made it five wins from five under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with an unconvincing 2-0 victory over Reading in the FA Cup third round.
First-half goals from Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku were enough for the home side at Old Trafford, although the nine changes made to the team that won at Newcastle United left them looking largely disjointed.
Reading, who sit 23rd in the Championship, enjoyed 60 per cent of the possession and had 13 shots to United’s eight, although a comeback never truly looked likely.
The downside was the fact Alexis Sanchez had to go off 64 minutes in, having apparently hurt the hamstring that kept him sidelined throughout December.
Mata dispatched a cool penalty – his first FA Cup goal since the victorious final of May 2016 – after referee Stuart Atwell penalised Omar Richards for a foul on the Spaniard following a VAR consultation, with Fred’s strike having been disallowed for offside in the same move.
It was harsh on Reading, who had started better, and they should have been level when Danny Loader made a mess of a one-on-one with Sergio Romero after Lukaku was denied by Anssi Jaakkola at the other end.
Andy Yiadom was denied by Romero at his near post as United continued to struggle, but a stray pass from John Swift proved costly in first-half injury time, with Lukaku rounding Jaakkola to make it 2-0 from Sanchez’s throughball.
Solskjaer handed youngster Tahith Chong the chance to impress off the bench and was then forced to take off Sanchez, who indicated his troublesome right hamstring was again causing him discomfort.
Sone Aluko was denied by a good save from Romero, but United were mostly comfortable in the closing minutes as they secured their place in next Monday’s fourth-round draw.
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Be interesting to see them up against a decent side now to see what improvements have been made. Ole has got a very handy run of matches to start in fairness
@Dinosaur Senior: haha can u not just admit that they are doing well. God almighty even the most hardened United supporter knows the teams haven’t been in the top 6 that they are playing but at the same time city, Chelsea and spurs have all dropped points against these so called lesser teams. United have a long way to go but are going the right direction as much as it might kill the abu
@Anthony: he has got off to a good start alright but there was every chance Jose would have won these 5 games and thats why he was sacked before these games as if he had have won these games it would have been harder to sack him coming into the CL games
@Shaun Gallagher: I wouldn’t agree with that. Jose had already been dropping points to the lesser teams
@Shaun Gallagher: The Newcastle game in particular I don’t think they would have got 3 points under Jose
@Shaun Gallagher: Bitter Much…Jose had the team playing dour football and was joyless to watch…Ole ( and Phelan) has instilled some joy and brought attacking football back , anybody with a semblance of knowledge about the game can see the difference in the games -so what of Jose could have gotten wins the point is the team were a shambles – he had fallen out with Pogba Valencia etc etc and kept setting up for negative football…..fans from other clubs can moan away all you like …United are in a much better place without Mourinho and United fans are enjoying watching the team again -the ABU can moan away to their hearts content
@Dinosaur Senior: They’ve played nothing but muck teams since José was sacked. Very curious to see them the lay a team with an above average amount of talent.
Incidentally, that lad Chong’s ability to grow hair is far more impressive than his ability to play big boys football.
@Dave Hammond: Couldn’t give one toss about that business in Manchester
@Anthony: the “Top 6″ in the league have the exact same result as Ole`s start – P 4 W 4 D 0 L 0
Since he got there, they have gone from 6th to ….6th
Next game against Spurs will mark his card
@Pixie McMullen: so you’re saying Liverpool didn’t beat Arsenal and lose to Man City?Chelsea didn’t lose to Leicester and draw to Southampton? You’re saying Arsenal’s points difference isn’t cut down to 3points? You’re right in that the Tottenham match is still very important. No United fan would deny that, but your argument against the managers success so far, that you pulled out of your ass.
@Anthony: he didn’t say they’re not going well. The difference is, when spurs and city lost it was a shock, when united lost it wasn’t. Stop acting like such a baby
@TellingItAsItIs:
Always wondered why Irish people are so obsessed with people who look a bit different, be it hair style, Tattoo’s and piercings and what not. Always found it very conservative. Maybe you could explain?
@Anthony: what?, the top 6 haven’t dropped points to any of united’s last 5 opponents in the premiership
@Dinosaur Senior: Have you watched the games,it’s the intent and style that should be considered rather than the opposition,that had improved immensely.
All weak teams we’ve played against, but we’re playing good football so that’s something I guess. Next Sunday will determine a lot.
@Scorpionvenomm: Can only beat who’s put in front of you, so far great start from Ole
@running man: of course but I’m not getting carried away that’s all.
Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Newcastle & Reading… 3 of them at home !!. Yep Olè is a legend !!!!. Hopefully Spurs will put them back in their box on Sunday ..
@Ross Ahern: Spurs will bottle it mark my word
@Ross Ahern: Someone is annoyed that United are winning games again eh..
@Ross Ahern: spurs lost at home to wolves a week ago….just saying
@maurice the turkey: don’t bank on that.
When you see the way Phelan was treated the other night all is not well in that camp.
@Ross Ahern: he was legend before he arrived. He scored the winner in 99!
@Nosmo King: Bullsh** …you have nothing to complain about so you start slinging makey up nonsense…..bitter as F***…..go watch Mike Phelan after the Newcastle game and try tell me he aint delighted to be back at UNited….your full of crap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9_HBxnTsw4
@Dave Hammond: Why would I be bitter ? Why would I make up stuff ? You don’t even know if I support a team in English soccer. A very irrational response to be honest. You obviously didn’t see Solskjaer whispering to the rest of the bench during the match whilst deliberately ignoring Phelan and Phelan walking down the tunnel immediately at the final whistle leaving the rest of the management team celebrating the win.
@Nosmo King: really weak argument. This is like little girls gossip.
@Andrew Keane: This was also commented on by a well respected sports journalist on tv during the weekend . Not just my opinion.
@Nosmo King: just cause they’re well respected doesn’t mean they know any better about what really happened.
Yeah but Solskjaer’s had it easier than a Kardashian so far.
@: the Kardashians have it tough. Can’t be easy to live under constant scrutiny like.
@: and Man City lost to Crystal Palace. What’s your point?
The run of fixtures they’ve had must have been a huge factor in getting rid of mourinho. Whoever they brought in would most likely have had the same results.
@Robc: tbf to them though they have put loads of goals past the teams
@Robc: How do you know that?
@Robc: As the commentator on BT said, under Mourinho they were always worried about the space behind them defensively but under OGS they are concentrating on the attacking space in front of them. Still early days and Spurs next will be Ole’s first big test but he has done everything right so far with a perfect record in his first 5 games.
@Robc: well it’s pretty clever thinking too – an opportunity to re-build momentum and confidence with fresh mgr – that’s worth a lot. Though maybe not 18 million…
@Robc: wow the bitterness in ABUs is actually laughable ….
@Robc: eh no the dour dour football and joylessness that Mourinho managed to create was the huge factor in getting rid of him…never mind the bleedin fixtures the club was in freefall….
Easy run of games no doubt but winning games will give that squad confidence.
4th spot will be hard to achieve no doubt but it’s possible.
The offside has to be called before the peno is given. Two manu players in the middle of the box have to be interfering with play.
@Brian Les: how do you work that out? The foul played the ball to Fred, advantage played for the foul, Fred touches the ball bring the offside, back for the foul
@Brian Les: you should probably brush up on the rules .
@Brian Les: u have no clue about the rules if u think that. Stop letting your hatred of United affect your opinion. The foul happened before any interference hence it’s a penalty. Funny thing nobody including reading players or pundits protested
@Brian Les: defender doesn’t make challenge on Mata if he knows the two players behind him are offside. If attacking players are in the middle of the box they are in fact interfering with play.
@Anthony: I couldn’t give a rats asss about your “united”
@Brian Les: looks like you also couldn’t give a rats ass about educating yourself about football either
@Brian Les: I always trust that the ref and linesmen will make the right decisions. They have studied the rules and are in the right place to make the call. They certainly have a better view of the action than the typical Man U fan. Offside is called incorrectly about half the time anyway. Not because of incompetence on the part of the officials but because a correct call involved tracking five objects in motion. No point getting upset about it.
@Sean: who is upset? You can’t say anything against manu without being accused of having an agenda.
@Brian Les: wrong there mate you need to learn the rules of the game
The Treble is on.
Party like its 1999.
Under Mourinho United seemed obsessed with not losing and lower ranked opposition teams at Old Trafford weren’t afraid to have a go from the off and United only started to play when they went behind. Now at least United are going out with the intention of getting the first goal.
I still think the likes of Spurs, City and Chelsea are well ahead of them until United buy at least one world class centre back, if not 2. Smalling Rojo Jones aren’t good enough. I’d still have time for Lindelof and Bailly if they have someone beside them who can lead and organise. The rest of the team isn’t bad for a coach who is attack minded.
As an MUFC fan. It’s nice to see Sanchez getting fouled again. It means he’s being a pest.
Make no mistake. United were dreadful today.
@Robert Clifford: They looked disjointed alright but in fairness they made nine changes to the team from their last match. Never really looked in trouble, never got into top gear but they did enough and won.
I’m a Liverpool fan. It’s not good to see any club under the cloud that Utd were. A manager who is prepared to work with what squad he has, obviously can talk to his players and encourage them and who is clearly creating belief…..I would begrudge Utd that.
@David A. Murray: Crap! That should have read; I WOULDN’T begrudge Utd that.
@David A. Murray: No, it should have read ‘Utd are still shyte’.
@TellingItAsItIs: oh no! A non tribalist supporter with a balanced opinion. You must stop him!
As a man United fan, I can say this is the best we’ve been since 1999, treble next season, you heard it here first.
It will take us at least a run of 3 or 4 more games to get up to the level that we saw from City and Liverpool the other night. Can’t wait for that though.
Does Ole get the job now.? Similar sort of spot to Mc carthy
@Gary Dorrian: Judge him at the end of the season.As nearly everyone has pointed out United have had a easy run since Ole arrived.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: and as nearly everyone has pointed out UNited fans are much much happier to have the team play attacking football as they are much more enjoyable to watch…regardless of where we finish this season ..the ABU moaners have nothing else to talk about except how ‘easy’ it allegedly all is….yet Mourinho had this same of team of players playing as DOUR as possible so good riddence. Looking forward to more begrudgery from the ABU clan for the rest of the season , they are always more wound up about anything united are doing rather than their own teams – if they even have any to support in some cases they are just out and put muppets – just read the comments
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: yeah United fans bring the easy run cause we know. ABUs bring it up because they want to act like we don’t know to benefit their argument.
Another match, another dick measuring contest between Man U and Liverpool fans. Change the fu%#ing record ffs.
@Nollaig Elliot: what? You’re the only who made it about that.
@Andrew Keane:
It’s always, your team is shit. Yea but your team is shitter. It’s pathetic.