Lucky seven as reds sweep into next round.
Doubles from Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen, along with a penalty from Antony made it an easy progress into the fourth round tonight. Leading three nil at the break, they refused to let up in the second half to give the side plenty of confidence ahead of bigger games. It was due reward for a professional display.
It was a horrible experience from the League One outfit though. They fell apart with goals on either side of half-time to see the game fall away from them. Other than half-chances they never really laid a finger on an experienced side.
It was expected to see changes given the amount of games to be played. Only Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, and Marcus Rashford remained from the Southampton game. Manuel Ugarte, Bayinder, and Toby Collyer all made their first starts of the season.
Barnsley were coming into the game on the back of a defeat at the weekend but looked enterprising in the opening stages. Expected to sit back and defend, the visitors pressed up the pitch. They set up nominally in a back-five but were unafraid to commit players on the attack. The response from United was some efforts from Marcus Rashford that were just off target from outside the area.
The England man was the one to provide the breakthrough though just after quarter of an hour. The home side broke from the back and the ball found its way out wide with Alejandro Garnacho. He spread the ball out to Rashford who feinted to shoot. Instead, he jinked his way inside and smashed the ball into the top corner.
The Yorkshire side were struggling now and were indebted to the linesman to prevent them going further behind. Diogo Dalot was adjudged to have been slightly early with his run when it appeared to have been on-side.
It was not long before the lead was doubled though. Rashford picked up the ball in midfield before releasing Antony to run through on goal. The Brazilian was taken down by the keeper and the penalty was given. Antony stepped up and slotted home first of the season.
A cause for concern came when Manuel Ugarte whet down under a challenge. He was soon up and more worried about why a free kick was given to the other side. A third arrived just before the break when slack defending in the box allowed Garnacho add to his goal from the weekend.
If the away side had any chance of getting back into the game, they needed to tighten up and score first. That was put to bed with tidy one touch football and a pass straight through the middle from Christian Eriksen put Garnacho through on goal. He guided it past Slonina for his second. He then helped set up Rashford to claim his second when Barnsley failed to clear it.
Garnacho should have got his hat-trick after playing a one-two with Bruno Fernandes but blazed it over. He did help Eriksen to his first goal when combining with Fernandes to lay a tap in for the Dane. Eriksen got his second when sweeping a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom left corner. The visitors were desperate to hear the final whistle to be put out of their misery and almost conceded an eight via Joshua Zirkzee and Antony.
A good night’s work all in all. Minutes for players coming back into the side, a clean sheet, and no injuries. United can now look towards the draw tomorrow night and then Crystal Palace away on Saturday evening at 17:30. Barnsley must try to put this aside now and focus on their promotion bid as they take on Burton Albion.
Manchester United: Altay Bayinder; Diogo Dalot (Noussair Mazraoui 56), Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans (Matthjis de Ligt 78), Toby Collyer; Carlos Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte (Bruno Fernandes 56), Christian Eriksen, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho (Amad Diallo 83), Marcus Rashford (Joshua Zirkzee 56).
Subs not used: Tom Heaton, Lisandro Martinez, Kobee Mainoo, Ethan Wheatley
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Barnsley: Gabriel Slonina; Barry Cotter (Kyran Lofthouse 63), Marc Roberts (Conor McCarthy 46), Mael de Gevigney, Corey O’ Keeffe; Adam Phillips, Fabio Jalo (Stephen Humphrys 46), Josh Earl, Max Watters (Sam Cosgrove 56); Vigmal Yoganthon (Matthew Craig 46), Luca Connell.
Subs not used: Ben Killip, Jon Russell, Josh Benson, Aiden Marsh, ,
Booked: Gabriel Slonina (34), Stephen Humphrys (72), Corey O’ Keeffe (90+3)
Sent off: None
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 72,063
Stretty News Player of the Match: Alejandro Garnacho
