Rovers foiled late as Ritchie nets Toon a replay
ACE KEE KO’S LAMBO FLOPS
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has even got Manchester United’s reserves winning games and scoring goals as he chalked up his fifth win on the trot since becoming caretaker boss. It may have been the most low-key performance of Solskjaer’s short reign, against a team embroiled in a relegation fight at the bottom of the Championship.
But don’t forget Jose Mourinho’s United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at home by Derby – so it will do for now.
Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku scored the goals for a United team that was selected by Solskjaer to take the strain after the busy festive period.
United now go to Dubai for a warmweather training camp – followed by a trip to Tottenham that Solskjaer already views as an acid test.
He said: “Spurs at Wembley is a proper test and we’re already looking forward to it. It will give me more of a reference as to where we are in relation to the big boys.
“We need to move on and move up the table. At Man United you always expect to win the next game.
“That doesn’t mean I expect to win every game we play because that doesn’t happen – but I always expect to win the next game.”
Solskjaer was still able to include £75million Lukaku, £52m Fred and £500,000-a-week Alexis Sanchez.
But this was a day when he took a look at fringe players like Sergio Romero and Matteo Darmian, as well as youngsters Andreas Pereira, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay and Tahith Chong.
“The result probably flattered us,” said the United boss. “Reading made it very difficult for us, but individual quality won us the game.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Royals may be struggling in the Championship and this was their 11th game without a win.
But new boss Jose Gomes saw his team enjoy 61 percent possession. And he insisted: “If we play like that then we don’t have to be concerned about the future.
“I was very proud of the performance but it showed we lack a killer instinct.
“I would like to bring in four or five new players – but only if they are better than the players we’ve already got.”
United took the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute thanks to VAR.
Mata was taken out by Tiago Ilori’s wild BILLY KEE headed home to send League One Accrington Stanley into the fourth round and make life even more miserable for lacklustre Ipswich.
Stanley boss John Coleman said: ‘‘If we can get a plum draw now, the cash raised can sustain us for next season.’’
Paul Lambert’s Tractor Boys, rock bottom of the Championship, were rocked by Kee’s 76th-minute strike.
Accrington 1 Ipswich 0
MATT RITCHIE saved Newcastle from another early FA Cup exit, but boss Rafa Benitez faces an uphill struggle to revive their season.
The Toon were just five minutes away from a humiliating defeat against Championship battlers Blackburn, who held a deserved lead through Bradley Dack.
But Ayoze Perez was tripped in the box by Corry Evans and, after ref Kevin Friend’s decision was checked by VAR, Ritchie scored the equaliser.
Ritchie turned in a fine stand-in skipper’s effort, full of hard work, to earn a replay at Ewood Park.
But it papered over the cracks of a performance that lacked authority as Freddie Sears missed a late chance for an equaliser but Stanley, who also went close through Jordan Clark, were full value for their win.
Lambert said: “The club needs to be rebuilt, and some players will be going. This club should not be in the state it is in. It’s an absolute disgrace.’’ a host of shadow players were given a chance by Benitez and flopped.
Newcastle are attempting to go beyond the fourth round for the first time in 13 years, but were as unconvincing as their league campaign has been at home.
Benitez’s side have lost eight of their 12 home games this season and stopped the rot with a draw that left no one satisfied.
Tony Mowbray’s Rovers, however, were magnificent. They scrapped with passion and intensity and used the ball far better than their Premier League opponents. They deserved to take the lead in the 56th minute – a bullet header from Dack.
He burst across the Newcastle defence to meet Elliott Bennett’s cross and hammered his chance past keeper Freddy Woodman.
Mowbray’s men should have had more, but Mulgrew’s volley at the back post was cleared off the line by Javier Manquillo.
Newcastle’s play was summed up when recalled Jacob Murphy ballooned a shot from 18 yards over the bar. He is Benitez’s biggest money signing – £12m from Norwich – but looks overawed. At least Florian Lejeune was a huge plus for Benitez. The defender made his comeback after just five months out following cruciate knee surgery.
The French star added power and passing precision and is now pushing for a Premier League return next weekend at Chelsea.
Newcastle 1 Blackburn 1 Simon Bird