Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TEENAGE KICKS
Rashford sends United through with double but concerns as he limps off hurt
HOLDERS Manchester United cruised into the last 16, Marcus Rashford inspiring them to an emphatic victory.
He scored twice as Jose Mourinho’s reshuffled pack made light work of their Championship opponents.
The England striker was given a standing ovation when replaced just after the hour and headed straight down the tunnel, sparking fears of an injury having taken a knock as he set up Anthony Martial for the fourth goal.
United can ill afford to be without the 19-year-old when he is in this kind of irresistible form, his pace, movement and eye for goal ensuring a torrid night for Burton.
Mourinho made nine changes from the side that beat Everton
4-0 on Sunday. He had top scorer Romelu Lukaku on the bench as insurance, although he was never required.
Nigel Clough followed suit, swapping nine of the Burton side who had defeated Norwich 2-1 at the weekend to nudged the Brewers up to 19th.
Albion caused a shock in 2006 when, as a non-league side, they held United to a goalless draw at home.
They lost the replay at Old Trafford 5-0, the gate receipts from that enabling them to pay for their new ground and begin their rise up the football league ladder.
But there was to be no surprise this time around, and they fell behind after only four minutes.
Reds skipper Michael Carrick, making his first appearance of the campaign, steered a pass to Lingard and he laid the ball off for Rashford to apply an assured finish.
There were few moments of anxiety for the hosts in the first-half, but a shot just over from Jamie Allen and the sight of Sergio Romero flapping at a dangerous free-kick were reminders of the slender nature of their lead.
But the task looked beyond the visitors by the 17th minute, Rashford again the scorer. He picked the ball up 25 yards out before manoeuvring himself into a shooting position and giving keeper Connor Ripley no chance with a sublime swerving shot.
The lead should have been doubled by the 25th minute, Juan Mata scooping a shot straight at Ripley, who moments later blocked Anthony Martial when he was clean through.
Mata then hit a post, while Martial saw an overhead kick effort deflected wide, as United laid siege to the Burton goal.
At the other end, Romero had to be alert, coming off his line to block a shot from Joe Mason, after Victor Lindelof, a £30million summer recruit from Benfica, failed to clear the danger.
But the stroll continued for United, Lingard making it 3-0 in the 36th minute with a deflected strike, the goal owing everything to Martial’s quick movement and even quicker feet in setting it up.
Luke Shaw made his first United appearance since April 30, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mata, the left-back having recovered from a lengthy lay-off following an ankle injury.
Shaw looked understandably rusty on his return to first-team action and has a long way to go if he is to convince Mourinho he is the answer to the team’s conundrum at left-back.
Martial capped a fine display with a deserved goal on the hour, latching onto a short ball from Rashford and steering it into the net.
Lloyd Dyer at least gave Burton something to show for their efforts with a consolation goal in injury time.
Joel Pereira, who replaced Romero in goal in the 78th minute, fumbled and Dyer thumped home.