Many had suggested that this was the worst possible game for the Reds following the embarrassing events of last Thursday, but it turned out to be anything but, an opportunity to secure an easy victory against opposition that offered little other than stout and resolute defending. Once United broke them down, there was really only one result.
The Reds dominated possession from the start but, as is often the case in games like this, the eventual breakthrough came with a scrappy goal from an unexpected source. Shrewsbury had rarely allowed United's forwards any time around the box but, when Chris Smalling found himself in space, his unconvincing attempt at a shot bounced into the ground and looped over the keeper.
There was nothing scrappy about United's second goal, Mata's well-placed free kick on the edge of the area in first half stoppage time good enough to beat any keeper at any level.
Shrewsbury inevitably tried to come out and play in the second half. Just as inevitably this left gaps for United to exploit and they did so when Herrera's ball picked out Lingard whose clinical finish made it 3-0.
Cruising to a comfortable win, United were able to introduce some of the youngsters on the bench as second half substitutes. Sadly, this brought the one piece of bad news on the night when the luckless Will Keane pulled up with what looked a bad groin injury after hitting the post.
Keane's enforced withdrawal meant the Reds had to see out the game with ten men. This proved to be no obstacle to their progress to the quarter finals, where the far more formidable challenge of West Ham lies ahead.
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