ROUT FAILS TO SILENCE REBELLION
6 MANCHESTER UNITED had six different goalscorers for only the second time — and the first since a 10-1 demolition of Wolves in October 1892. United, then called Newton Heath and playing at North Road in front of 4,000 fans, registered hattricks from Robert Donaldson and William Stewart, along with goals from Adam Carson, William Hood, James Hendry and Alfred Farman.
53 UNITED have only lost one of their last 53 FA Cup games against teams from outside the top flight — a 1-0 defeat by Leeds in January 2010.
19 GOALS let in by Tranmere in their last three home FA Cup games against top-flight teams — 6-2 v Swansea in 2015, 7-0 v Spurs last year and 6-0 yesterday.
HARRY MAGUIRE (who hadn’t scored in 31 United games before yesterday), Diogo Dalot (no goals in 28), Jesse Lingard (one in his last 41) and Phil Jones (none in his last 131) had United 4-0 up inside 41 minutes.
THE game was over as a contest and the visiting section knew it. They were only 16 minutes into an encounter that had looked potentially ruinous, but in a flash they were a step nearer to Wembley. So the Manchester United fans in the Cowshed Stand began paying homage to their old heroes. There was a tribute for George Best, one for Eric Cantona. There were several too for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In these situations, though, bonhomie only lasts so long. Soon the tone changed. Ed Woodward, the much derided executive vice-chairman, was verbally lampooned with a song in dreadful taste. The increasingly vilified Glazer family were told to never come back before — most significantly — there was an impassioned plea: ‘We want United back! We want United back!’ They sang it over and again. Wanting something and getting it, however, are two entirely different things. The mood may have been lifted by the biggest win since Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign ended in 2013 but what, in the grand scheme, has changed for United after this cakewalk at Tranmere Rovers? Nothing. Tranmere, much to the disappointment of their manager Micky Mellon, collapsed after conceding the opening goal. United made hay but this was no kind of test. Some will try to dress it up as a positive step forward but realists will not be fooled. When you think about Manchester United, words such as decisiveness and quality should come to mind. In their pomp, they won games ruthlessly and conducted business efficiently. If an outstanding player needed to be signed, they would do it with the minimum of fuss. Standing still was never an option. But United are now standing still and this brings us to the case of Bruno Fernandes. The Sporting Lisbon midfielder is exactly the kind of performer this squad needs to lift it but the indecision shown by Woodward and Matt Judge — the chief transfer negotiator behind the scenes who is fortunate to have avoided greater scrutiny — is costing them.
United have some excellent players in their squad but nowhere near enough to be taken credibly as contenders for top honours. Fernandes would be a step in the right direction but why now, in the final week of January, are we unsure how this saga ends? Solskjaer had a wry laugh when he was asked if there was any news about United doing business this month. ‘We’d tell you if there was,’ he said. He must be at his wits’ end that the assistance from other areas is not being provided. The fans know where things stand. So, until United get things sorted out behind the scenes and show signs of working to a clear plan, the criticism will continue to pour down. ‘We’re just going to try to get the results right to move the club forward,’ said Solskjaer. ‘Supporters are always happier when you are winning games.’