RESERVE GR Solskjaer’s second string keep up B

OLE GUNNAR GUN SOLSKJAER has even got Manchester United’s reserves winning games and scoring goals. g

This m may have been the most low-key p performance of Solskjaer’s short re reign, against a team embroiled in a relegation fight at the bottom of the Championship.

But Jose Mourinho’s United were knocked out o of the Carabao Cup at home by Derby. D

So a fift fifth successive win to secure the Reds’ s stand-in boss a place in the fourth rou round of the FA Cup – to go with his b bid for the Premier League’s top four – will certainly do for now. Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku scored the goals for a United team that was selected by Solskjaer 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.”

Solskjaer was still able to include £75million Lukaku, £52m Fred and £500,000-a-week Alexis Sanchez.

But this was a day when he had a look at fringe players, such as Sergio Romero and Matteo Darmian, as well as Andreas Pereira, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay and teenage substitute Tahith Chong (below).

“The result probably flattered us,” said the United boss. “Reading made it very difficult for us, but individual quality won us the game.” He wasn’t wrong. New Royals boss Jose Gomes saw his team enjoy 61 per cent possession.

And he insisted:

“If we play like that, then we don’t have to be concerned about the future. I was very proud of the performance.” United took the lead, in the 23rd mi

Mata was Ilori’s wild cha the ball ran l home, the Br offside. Referee St upstairs conf

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