Jose sends a supersub duo to sink Blackburn

WI TH an hour gone and Manchester United locked in a fifth-round stalemate with Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire drizzle, Jose Mourinho turned to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.

It was a power play, a graphic demonstration of what separates these two clubs in the modern era, 22 years after Blackburn pipped United to the Premier League title.

Mourinho’s substitutes were the most expensive in the history of the FA Cup, a bench worth a total of £ 192million even when you consider that Ibrahimovic cost nothing.

‘ We were r i ch in solutions,’ admitted Mourinho afterwards, which was an apt choice of words. World Cup winner with Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger, England i nternational Luke Shaw and £30million man Eric Bailly couldn’t get a game. Spaniard Juan Mata was held back until the 89th minute.

Ibrahimovic and Pogba would probably have been kept in reserve had the occasion not required a little quality to separate the FA Cup holders from the Championship strugglers, whose entire matchday squad cost an estimated £450,000.

Owen Coyle’s side put up quite a fight and took a deserved early lead through Danny Graham.

But a few miles down the M65 from where a f airytale unfolded f or Lincoln City at Turf Moor on Saturday, hopes of another upset were blown away by United’s big guns.

Pogba and I brahimovic had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when the £89m man pulled the ball back for Ander Herrera, whose cross to the far post invited a finishing touch into the open goal from the Swede.

Ibrahimovic was caught cold and the chance vanished. But with talent like that in reserve, it was always likely to make a difference and so i t proved i n the 75th minute.

A trait of their partnership this season has been Pogba’s ability to pick out Ibrahimovic with passes over the top from midfield, and he did it again here with a 30-yard chip beyond the Blackburn defence.

Ibrahimovic had stayed just onside and even had time to spin full circle as he waited for the ball to bounce before steering it first-time past Jason Steele into the far corner.

I t was hi s 24th goal of a magnificent first season in English football and his 18th in the last 20 games. Enough to put United in the quarter-finals again.

‘I knew that he would be a very i mportant player f or us,’ said Mourinho. ‘People learn how to play together. The connection between quality players any time is a help.’

Mourinho was just as relieved that he does not have a replay to