Ole banks on gold reserves
STAND-INS DELIVER TO MAKE IT FIVE OUT OF FIVE
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has even got Manchester United’s reserves winning games and scoring goals.
This may have been the most low-key performance of his short reign, against a team embroiled in a relegation fight at the bottom of the Championship.
But Jose Mourinho’s United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at home by Derby so a fifth straight win – to secure the standin boss a place in the FA Cup Fourth Round – will do for now.
Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku scored the goals for a team selected to take the strain after the busy festive period.
United now go to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp – followed by a trip to Tottenham that Solskjaer 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.”
Solskjaer was still able to include £75million Lukaku, £52m Fred and £500,000-a-week Alexis Sanchez as he took a look at fringe players like Sergio Romero and Matteo Darmian, as well as youngsters Andreas Pereira, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay and teenage substitute 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.”
This was the Royals’ 11th game without a win but new boss Jose Gomes saw them enjoy 61 per cent possession.
He said: “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.”
United took the lead against the run of play in the 22nd minute thanks to VAR.
Mata was taken out by Tiago Ilori’s wild challenge and although the ball ran loose for Fred to slot home, the Brazilian had strayed offside.
Referee Stuart Attwell went upstairs for a decision that confirmed Ilori had fouled Mata and the Spaniard sent Anssi Jaakkola the wrong way from the spot.
Andy Yiadom and Danny Loader wasted chances for the visitors either side of Mata’s opener.
And Yiadom forced keeper Romero into a smart save just before Lukaku put the home side further ahead in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
He raced clear thanks to Sanchez’s pass and his third goal since Solskjaer’s arrival was never in doubt once he had evaded Jaakkola’s plunge towards the ball.
Gomes opted to replace the injured Ilori with
Sone Aloko at the break because former United favourite John O’Shea felt a slight muscle strain in the warm-up.
Romero saved Callum Harriott’s fierce shot with his legs and later kept out a low effort from Aluko.
The only thing United fans got to shout about during the second half was the appearance of shaggy-haired Dutchman Chong for his debut, although the loss of Sanchez with a slight hamstring pull will be a worry.
Solskjaer, who has emulated Sir Matt Busby by winning his first five games in charge, said: “I picked a team that had never played together before so I am pleased we’re through and that we’ve kept another clean sheet.”