FA Cup Semi-Final: United 2 Everton 1

An entertaining FA Cup Semi-Final was decided dramatically in stoppage time when Anthony Martial scored the goal that sets up an FA Cup Final with Watford or Crystal Palace.

Earlier, what eventually turned into a highly competitive game had looked so easy.  Although United had to survive a couple of early scares when Lukaku broke through - thwarted first by a superb goal line clearance from Rooney and second by his own poor touch - they took the game to Everton in the first half and played with the kind of pace and creativity that's been all too absent for much of this season.  Rooney, excelling again in a deep role, was orchestrating play while Rashford and, in particular, Martial were running Everton's defenders ragged at times.

Everton might have felt they'd done enough to weather this early pressure when United took the lead.  Martial got to the line and cut back for Fellaini, whose finish was scruffy but effective.  The big Belgian also benefited from the Everton defence's inability to get tight on him in the area, another feature of a first half that the Reds dominated.

The only regret at half-time was that the Reds hadn't capitalised on that dominance to build a bigger lead.  That regret began to loom larger as a very different Everton emerged at half-time and a second half good enough to grace any FA Cup semi-final ensued.  

It was a harsh decision that sparked it off.  Fosu-Mensah was judged to have brought down Barkley when it was clear the young Dutchman had got the ball.  David De Gea, characteristically, simply saw that as his cue to get involved in the game: the keeper threw himself to his right to save Lukaku's spot kick for his umpteenth crucial save this season.

United were denied a more clear-cut penalty decision when Fellaini had his tap-in intercepted by Jagielka's arm.  Had the referee seen it, he would certainly have had to sent the defender off also.  The failure to give it looked like it might have serious consequences when substitute Deulofeu's cross into the box was deflected into his own goal by Smalling.

From there it could, in truth, have gone either way.  Martial's cross was inches away from finding Lingard's foot in the Everton area and De Gea once again saved superbly, managing also to steer the ball out of the path of the advancing Lukaku.  Fellaini then got back to produce the best tackle of the game and deny Everton what looked a likely winner.

Extra time looked a certainty when substitute Herrara's ball set Martial away through the middle and the Frenchman, who'd been his usual class act throughout the encounter, calmly stroked the ball past Joel to ensure that this hugely frustrating season will at least end with a trip back to Wembley and the FA Cup Final.

FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay: West Ham 1 United 2

Just when you thought the season was grinding to a disappointing close, United went to the Boleyn Ground and pulled off a memorably victory that keeps hopes alive of a triumphant end of the season in the FA Cup.

After weathering some early pressure from the home team, the Reds gradually gained control of the first half but frustratingly failed to capitalise on the chances created.   Both Fellaini and Lingard drew saves out of Randolph while Carrick was enjoying the freedom to dictate play from midfield in a manner that's been all too rare this season.

There will have been concerns among Reds fans that United's failure to find the net in that first half meant we'd blown our opportunity.  However, after half-time the Reds came out with even greater purpose.  It was, predictably, Marcus Rashford who broke the deadlock.  The young forward had a fine all-round game and his sixth goal for United was the best yet.  Finding himself on the edge of the penalty area, he curled a superb shot just inside the far post to give Randolph no chance.

There was a cavalier swagger about this United team that has been absent during so much of the season.  Following the goal they continued to press and their dominance brought further reward when Lingard's cross to the far post found Martial, who managed to prod the ball across the goal for Fellaini to score with his knee.

Until then, United's impressive performance was matched only by an uncharacteristically insipid effort from West Ham.  Bilic's team rarely get through ninety minutes without offering some kind of threat though and, with Moses coming off the bench to add further drive to their midfield, they began to find their way into the game.  Their pressure was met, predictably, by stubborn resistance from De Gea but the keeper could do nothing when, from the corner that resulted from his fine save from Antonio, Tomkins steered a brave header past him.

It set up a frantic last ten minutes or so.  De Gea was forced to make a couple of further saves to keep West Ham at bay but the Reds showed enormous character and resilience to see out the tie and set up a semi-final at Wembley against Everton.   2015-16 has been a pretty dismal season for United fans, but there remains the prospect it may well redeem itself gloriously in the final stages.

FA Cup Quarter-Final: United 1 West Ham 1

United lived to fight at least another day in the FA Cup after an absorbing, and at times nervy, game against West Ham, whose goal via a free kick from the talented Payet was cancelled out by an Anthony Martial equaliser with seven minutes left.

The league table suggests there isn't much between these sides and that was certainly borne out in this game.  In the first half, both teams carried a threat but lacked an end product. Herrera had United's best opportunities, steering a shot wide before ballooning a shot over the bar following an excellent cross from Rojo.  

The Reds looked more productive from the left, with Martial asking questions of Antonio, though service to the French youngster might have been better and United's passing in general lacked incisiveness.  The West Ham right back was heavily involved in a goalmouth scramble that was gave his team their best opportunity of the half, but the United defence managed to clear the danger.

The Reds picked up the tempo in the second half and West Ham's goal came after arguably United's best period of play.  Herrera and Martial had both seen chances go begging when a foul by Blind on Payet saw the West Ham player step up and curl an unstoppable free kick in off the post.

Memphis and Schweinsteiger came on for United in an effort to rescue the game and the German was particularly impressive, orchestrating play after his long absence through injury.  Martial was easily United's best player, however, and there was no surprise when he was involved in both the build-up and execution of the goal that kept the Reds in the FA Cup.  He spread the ball out wide to Herrera then made his way to the far post when got on the end of the Basque's deep cross to head past Randolph.

There were some nervy moments for the Reds at the end and De Gea made a superb save from an Antonio shot that was seen late by the keeper as it was drilled through the legs of Carrick.  The two sides will now meet at the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be a competitive and difficult replay.

FA Cup: Shrewsbury 0 United 3

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.

Derby 1 United 3 - Reflections

Yes, I know: we were playing Championship opposition and we shouldn't get too excited.  And yes, it was a good performance rather than a brilliant one. 

Nevertheless, there was much to be pleased about from a United supporter's point of view.  I don't think it's a failure to be consistently brilliant that Reds fans are unhappy with: it's a failure to play without imagination and adventure and last night there were signs of a team attempting to do that.

All three goals were the result of good build-up play in the opponent's half and clinical execution.  Rooney's curling effort for the first was a further sign that he's getting back to his best form.  The third goal illustrated again what an exciting talent we have on our hands in the form of Anthony Martial, whose run into the box and cut-back for Juan Mata to score was the highlight of the night.

Sandwiched between them was a goal that best illustrated the difference between this win and that appallingly sterile performance against Southampton. Then, it appeared players were afraid to venture out of position, to move, to create space and to take the occasional risk (not unusual this season, I know). 

Last night Daley Blind (left) played a ball out of defence to Mata defence, continued his run for the return pass and, when he didn't get it, ran in to fill a vacant position at the near post, before latching onto Lingard's cross and regaining the lead for the Reds.  Yes, a defender was allowed to venture into the area and didn't come back with a nosebleed: take note, LVG and coaching team.

That goal alone is why Reds can surely allow themselves to feel a little happier this morning.  Let's just hope it doesn't all go back to square one against Stoke on Tuesday.