THE VERDICT: BRISTOL C 2 UNITED 1

WHEN you are unceremoniously dumped out of the cup by a Championship side, there are not many positives to take as a United fan.

But when Reds get over the shock of seeing their side dumped out of the competition they won last year by Bristol City, they can at least look to one bright moment which could yet play a big role in the rest of their season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have been left bemused by the chants that greeted his every skewed effort or failed pass from Bristol City’s boisterous support.

Making his first start since April 20, the United striker was unfavourably compared by the home fans to a second division forward, Milan Duric, who has scored just four goals for the Robins since joining last summer.

This is the same Swede who has long established himself as not only one of football’s great personalities, in an era dominated by monosyllabic answers and hackneyed responses, but also one of the greatest players of his generation.

The astonishing goals, the countless title wins, the iconic status in his homeland – Ibrahimovic has done it all. But, having bounced back from a horror knee injury, the scars of which he still bears, he looked a little lost at times at Ashton Gate. The man so crucial to United’s success last season - finishing as the Carabao Cup’s top scorer - used to embarrass defenders like Bristol’s Nathan Baker and Aden Flint without breaking sweat. But, just as it looked like Jose Mourinho was about to put one of his favourite players out of his misery by bringing him off, Ibrahimovic delivered a trademark response - minutes after a wild effort nearly went out for a throw-in. Stepping up to take a 25-yard free-kick, the Swede channelled Ronaldinho as he curled a fizzing drive under Bristol’s towering wall past the helpless Luke Steele to give United a precious equaliser after Joe Bryan’s shock thunderbolt had given the home side the lead. Chest out, Ibrahimovic threw his arms in the air as Ashton Gate was silenced. Well, apart from United’s 2,187-strong travelled support who jumped and punched in delerium. Bryan (51), Smith (90+3) Ibrahimovic (58) 46% 54% 19 6 11 7 Taylor Pogba Mike Dean 26,088 Paterson, Rashford, This was the moment the Swede surely dreamt of as he put in those endless hours in the gym in Monaco, Carrington and beyond.

Poor old Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was stripped and readied to come on for the Swede, was sent back to the bench and had to wait another eight minutes to finally get a run out.

Ibrahimovic eventually exited stage right, passing the captain’s armband over to Paul Pogba as he trudged off. It was not a performance for the showreel, but he had partly answered his critics. His night, however, was spoilt by Korey Smith’s famous winner for Bristol.