EVERTON FACE A TRIP TO CHELSEA IN NEXT ROUND Rashford goes on rampage
MARCUS Rashford showed last night that Romelu Lukaku is not the only ‘scoring genius’ at Old Trafford, demonstrating he is more than capable of finding the net when in a central role.
The England man led the way as the Carabao Cup holders cleared their first hurdle against Burton Albion.
On a night when Lukaku and the terrace chant that has attracted so much publicity were kept under wraps, United gave their fans plenty to sing about.
Jose Mourinho’s side were two goals up inside the opening 17 minutes as Rashford, who has grown accustomed to a wider role to accommodate Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic before him, struck twice. Jesse Lingard made it three before half-time and Anthony Martial Carabao Cup, fourth-round draw (ties to be played week commencing October 23): Bristol City v Crystal Palace, Tottenham v West Ham, Arsenal v Norwich City, Swansea v Manchester United, Manchester City v Wolves, Chelsea v Everton, Bournemouth v Middlesbrough, Leicester City v Leeds United. added a fourth in the second period.
Of Martial, Mourinho said: ‘He wanted to do things — some he did amazingly well, others not so well but he was always trying and that commitment and happiness on the pitch is always important.’
The size of the challenge facing Burton was apparent as early as the fourth minute when Rashford put United in front.
Michael Carrick played the ball into the box and Lingard cushioned the ball into the path of his teenage team-mate. Rashford applied a nonchalant finish, clipping a shot past keeper Connor Ripley.
United extended their lead when Rashford stuck again in the 17th minute. The Burton defence were guilty of standing off the striker as he took possession of Daley Blind’s pass on the edge of the area.
Rashford seemed surprised at the space around him as he glanced up and took one touch before rifling a shot home.
United added a third goal nine minutes before half-time. It followed some lovely footwork by Martial, who played the ball to Lingard. His shot took a deflection, leaving Ripley wrong-footed.
Mourinho’s side had plenty more opportunities in an entertaining first half. Ripley did brilliantly to turn Juan Mata’s shot against a post, having already denied the Spaniard and Martial at close range.
Burton had their moments, too, with Lloyd Dyer causing Matteo Darmian problems down the United right.
Jamie Allen curled an early effort over and Blind had to hack clear after Sergio Romero had spilled Matt Palmer’s freekick, but their best opportunity arrived in the 26th minute.
Luke Varney picked out Joe Mason’s run into the box. Mason should have buried his shot first time, but tried to be clever and dink the ball over Romero, who got a vital touch to keep the ball out.
Mourinho switched his team around at half-time to bring on defender Luke Shaw for his first appearance since sustaining a foot ligament injury in April.
And the home side wrapped up victory when Martial scored the goal that had eluded him all night. Rashford helped set this one up, playing the ball into the path of the Frenchman as he burst into the box before burying his shot.
Burton scored a consolation in stoppage time when Dyer pounced after substitute home keeper Joel Pereira had spilled the ball.