There was razzmatazz, a “Welcome to the Jungle” soundtrack and no fairytale for Wayne Rooney . Instead of a script with Manchester United’s record goalscorer haunting them for Derby, the visitors ruined the Rooney party and Odion Ighalo signalled he may have a future at Old Trafford beyond his temporary deal.
As with the latter days of his 20 – year United career Rooney was glimpsed only around the edges of a match that ended with his former side securing passage to Norwich for a quarter-final, and Ighalo the scorer of two goals to take his tally for the club to three.
“Another away draw,” said Ole Gunnar Solskjær. “We’re used to that now, seven in a row, we’ll have to do it [win the trophy] the hard way but we’ve got a chance.”
Victory took United to nine unbeaten. This time last year a run of one loss in 90 was ended by defeat at Arsenal that precipitated a free-fall of only two wins in the season’s last 12 games. The manager was asked why this would not happen again. “They’re fitter, have a better mentality [now], had a winter break, we’ve added a few signings, are injury-free, getting players back and the whole squad is ready to go,” he said. “I’ve got a big squad – I had don’t know how many hamstring injuries [last year] because we weren’t ready to do what we asked them to do.”
Pride Park had a kind of heavy-metal start that matched the noise fans created. Victor Lindelöf made a simple error, handing the ball to Max Lowe and the left-back speared in a cross. At the other end Rooney’s opening contribution was to slide – blood-and-thunder style – into Scott McTominay, which drew raucous cheers.
The contest’s vibrancy was personified by Louie Sibley’s thrust forward and shot and, after Solskjær remonstrated with McTominay for loose play, United awoke. The effervescent Bruno Fernandes fed the excellent Luke Shaw along the left to earn a corner. Yet from this Derby broke via the lively Sibley and Shaw ended the footrace by upending him and earning a booking. The free-kick was in prime Rooney territory: his curled attempt circumvented the wall and required a diving Sergio Romero to steer wide.
Fernandes has become United’s driving force since joining in January so there was relief in the ranks when, after lying on the pitch following a clash with Craig Forsyth, the midfielder was able to continue.
United gained more control but still reached for the requisite slickness. Fernandes was a blur of runs, making demands on teammates to switch to his wavelength. Even when Juan Mata found Ighalo to force Kelle Roos to save, the pass was a rebound.
All of this was forgotten when United took the lead. A Fernandes shot came back off Roos and Shaw drilled home, via the ground and possibly Jesse Lingard’s back, for his second United – and career – goal.
This had the jubilant traveling support singing “Que sera sera, we’re going to Wembley” and Derby’s mood was about to be punctured further. Shaw dazzled with dancing feet that took him into space before feeding Ighalo, and now came an expert finish: the center-forward wriggling between two defenders then shooting past Roos for his second goal since his loan move.
It enhanced the impression that the Nigerian’s signing was shrewd business from United. What they needed in the second half was to show smart game-management. One mode is to operate up near the opponent’s goal: the sight of Fernandes finding Scott McTominay’s head from a corner was a good start. And the way Mata, Diogo Dalot and McTominay pinged the ball around between them a little later augured well, too.
Even when Jayden Bogle swept a pass from his right corridor to Jason Knight on the left United eased Derby gradually back via the pressing of Eric Bailly. Shaw – doing a fair impersonation of Roberto Carlos – slalomed through Derby again and came close to adding a third.
It was heartening to hear the United faithful regaling their former hero – a memorable experience for Rooney, even if this was because their side were coasting.
With an eye on Sunday’s derby with Manchester City – for which the missing Harry Maguire’s “rolled ankle, hopefully” will be OK – Solskjær took off Fernandes for Andreas Pereira and Phillip Cocu swapped Martyn Waghorn for Jack Marriott.
It became a night to remember for Ighalo via the left-foot rocket he hit into the roof of the net with 20 minutes remaining. This was followed by a nonchalant jig of celebration that found a mirror image from those in the away section.
At the final whistle United were content and Rooney wandered off disappointed, though he had warmed Romero’s fingers with a late free-kick.
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