The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

United into last eight as ‘Sarri-ball’ booed

FA CUP: Pressure builds on Blues boss after Herrera and Pogba seal victory

- MATT MCGEEHAN

CHELSEA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Manchester United dumped holders Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 fifthround win at Stamford Bridge last night to leave Maurizio Sarri’s position as Blues head coach ever more precarious.

Boos greeted the half-time whistle as goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba, who had set up the first, earned 12-time winners United a 2-0 advantage and a place in the quarter-finals.

The dissent grew towards Sarri in the second half, with his predictabl­e substituti­ons and refusal to compromise on his possession-based style of play leaving vast swathes of the home support to give an expletive-laden appraisal of ‘Sarri-ball’.

Chelsea supporters even joined in as United fans sang “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. It is a fate which appears ever more likely.

A change of boss has had the desired effect for United. Paris St-Germain inflicted the first defeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, after an 11-match unbeaten start.

And now United are in the quarterfin­als after a seventh win from seven away games since the Norwegian’s appointmen­t on December 19.

The Blues began well, but United grew into the game and always looked dangerous.

Chris Smalling might have put United in front after nine minutes, but headed poorly at Kepa Arrizabala­ga before Chelsea’s best spell of the game.

Sergio Romero, deputising for David De Gea, saved twice in quick succession. He punched David Luiz’s free-kick as far as Pedro, whose volley was gathered by the goalkeeper at the second attempt.

Pogba was deployed on the left of United’s midfield and set up the opening goal.

A flowing move involving Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata – three former Chelsea players – concluded when Pogba crossed from the left. Fault could be found in a number of Chelsea players as Herrera headed in unnoticed at the back post.

A second followed on the stroke of half-time. Pogba won the ball in midfield before feeding Marcus Rashford down the right wing.

The France World Cup-winning midfielder continued his run and was found by Rashford’s pin-point cross. Pogba headed down and in, but Kepa might have saved.

United were able to sit back and play on the break in the second half. Eden Hazard tried to spark Chelsea into life, cutting in from the right, but his shot was blocked by Victor Lindelof.

After one predictabl­e Chelsea substituti­on, Willian for Pedro, there was sarcastic applause for another when Kovacic was replaced by Ross Barkley.

More boos followed when Davide Zappacosta came on for Azpilicuet­a in a straight swap at right-back and there were more jeers at full-time as United advanced to face Wolves, giving Chelsea plenty of reasons to be alarmed.

 ?? Picture: Getty. ?? Juan Mata (8) celebrates after Ander Herrera, right, scores Manchester United’s first goal.
Picture: Getty. Juan Mata (8) celebrates after Ander Herrera, right, scores Manchester United’s first goal.

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