Rooney’s on the spot to seal reunion with United

WAYNE ROONEY’S appetite for the warm-up in a half-empty stadium told you how much he wanted a swansong against Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round. He was integral to delivering it for the side he now captains — engineering things from the quarterback role which gives him time and space, then delivering a flat, near-post corner which provoked chaos in Northampton’s defence and allowed Andre Wisdom to put his team ahead. There will be challenges for him against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. Rooney is not pacy. Even Andy Williams, the 33-year-old journeyman midfielder, proved that point as the League Two side began well. But Rooney’s 40-yard pass which sent Jack Marriott through on goal moments later revealed the two sides of his game. Derby fluffed that opportunity but Wisdom was more decisive. His goal was his first since he found the net against Young Boys in 2012 for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool. Duane Holmes doubled the lead from close range and, though Northampton pulled one back — Nicky Adams meeting Paul Anderson’s cross — Marriott’s header soon made it 3-1. Derby manager Phillip Cocu asked Rooney if he wanted to continue after 75 minutes. ‘We wanted to see how he felt because sometimes as a manager you can see that the tempo is not high,’ Cocu said. ‘He felt great.’ Rooney sealed his club’s progress with a penalty after Scott Wharton had fouled Tom Lawrence. Sam Hoskins’ late spot kick was immaterial. Rooney has faced United twice since leaving, losing twice and conceding six with Everton. Wild horses wouldn’t keep him from one last signature show.

DERBY COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Roos 6; Wisdom 7, Davies 6.5, Clarke 6, Malone 6; Rooney 7.5, Shinnie 6.5; Martin 6.5 (Waghorn 84min), Holmes 6 (Knight 70, 6), Lawrence 7; MARRIOTT 8 (Sibley 77).

Subs not used: Ravas, Forsyth, Bogle, Bird. Scorers: Wisdom 28, Holmes 35, Marriott 51, Rooney 77 (pen).

Manager: Phillip Cocu 6.5. NORTHAMPTON (3-4-1-2): Cornell 5.5; Harriman 6, Goode 5.5, Wharton 6; Hoskins 6, Lines 5.5 (Pollock 58, 6), Watson 6.5, Adams 6 (Martin 61, 5.5); Anderson 6; Williams 6, Oliver 5.5 (Warburton 46, 6).

Subs not used: Arnold, Hall-Johnson, Roberts, Chukwuemeka. Scorers: Adams 47, Hoskins 84 (pen). Booked: Watson.

Manager: Keith Curle 6. Referee: David Webb 7.

Attendance: 15,860.