On-song Rooney sets up his United reunion
WAYNE Rooney made sure of his special day and a get-together with Manchester United.
Derby were barely troubled in this FA Cup fourth-round replay and United will come to Pride Park next month in the fifth round.
“They never had any answer to us,” said Derby manager Phillip Cocu. “Playing United will be a special game for Wayne and for us, something to look forward to.We will try and win it – nothing is impossible.”
The player-coach was behind all that Derby did well. Rooney, 34, played his last game for the Red Devils in their Europa League final win over
Ajax in April 2017. He played 559 times for United, scored 253 goals – and could now knock them out of the cup.
Rooney made his first decisive contribution when his 28th-minute corner troubled goalkeeper David Cornell and Andre Wisdom banged in his first goal for nearly eight years.The Cobblers were hurt again when Duane Holmes got Derby’s second 10 minutes before half-time.
Northampton pulled one back through Nicky Adams two minutes into the second half but Jack Marriott’s 51st-minute header restored the lead.
Then Rooney saw it through with a 77th-minute penalty, despite Northampton’s
Sam Hoskins also putting away a penalty.
DERBY (4-4-2): Roos 6; Wisdom 7, Davies 6, Clarke 6, Malone 6; Holmes 7 (Knight 69, 5), Rooney 8, Shinnie 6, Lawrence 7; Marriott 7 (Sibley 77, 5), Martin 6 (Waghorn 84, 5).
Goals: Wisdom 28, Holmes 35, Marriott 51, Rooney 77 pen.
NORTHAMPTON (3-5-2): Cornell 7; Harriman 6, Goode 6, Wharton 6; Hoskins 6, Anderson 7, Lines 7 (Pollock 58, 5), Watson 6, Adams 6 (Martin 61, 5); Williams 6, Oliver 6 (Warburton 45, 5).
Goals: Adams 47, Hoskins 84 pen.