PL2: Leicester City 0 United 0

It's been a pretty drab season at Under 23 level, but I don't recall seeing a game quite as dull as this one.  Neither keeper was meaningfully tested throughout a game that saw both sides come away with a point that, given other results, probably suited both teams in their efforts to fight relegation.

United probably just about edged a fairly uneventful first half.  Both sides lacked a creative spark and, just as Indy Boonen began to look most likely to provide one for the Reds, his Under 23 debut came to a premature close when he was forced off with an injury before the half-hour mark.

Once Boonen had left the fray, an already uneventful encounter meandered to a predictable snore-draw.  Occasionally there were attempts from both sides to rouse the slumbering King Power Stadium crowd: Dewsbury-Hall saw a shot deflected wide for Leicester while Makela hit an effort just wide in the closing stages for United.   Otherwise, stalemate prevailed.

The draw lifts United four points clear of the relegation zone.  Even if the Reds fail to win either of their remaining games, Derby and Reading will now need to win both of theirs to send them down.  Hopefully that can all be resolved when United play Spurs at Old Trafford a week on Monday, and this dismal Premier League 2 campaign can finally be brought to a close.

PL2 Sunderland 1 United 3

United's Under 23s gained a vital win in the fight against relegation with their best performance of the season at Eppleton.  This win takes Nicky Butt's side out of the relegation places and into seventh place in the twelve-team league.

Anyone unfamiliar with the Reds' second string's disappointing form of late would have been scratching their heads at their lowly position in Premier League 2 as the youngsters tore into their opponents from the off, building up a 2-0 lead before half-time that better finishing might have seen them at least double.

As it was the Reds - playing in blue - took the lead when Mitchell converted the penalty awarded after Harrop had been tripped in the area by ex-United defender Donald Love.  This was followed quickly by a deflected shot from McTominay that doubled United's lead.

United eventually gained a deserved third with nineteen minutes of the second half remaining when Redmond (above) followed up on McTominay's saved effort to score from the rebound.

Although Sunderland grabbed a late consolation in stoppage time when a free kick into the box led to Honeyman tapping home, there was nothing the Wearsiders could do to claw back the Reds' convincing lead.  

The only blemish on a fine night for United was that the free kick was awarded following a foul by Poole that brought him a second yellow.  Poole was making his return from a suspension during which his presence was much-missed and Nicky Butt will be disappointed that he'll lose the Welshman again for what was an unnecessary challenge with the game already long won.

PL2 United 0 Reading 2

This capitulation against Reading leaves United in serious danger of relegation from Premier League 2.  Once again, the Reds were outplayed by rivals who were hard-working and well-organised but otherwise unspectacular, to extend a dismal run of home form that now leaves them dangerously close to the two relegation places.

In the season-long absence of a genuine forward, this time it was Callum Gribbin who led the attack.  Gribbin is a talented prospect but his failure to capitalise on two chances in the first half illustrated a familiar problem for United.  First, he neglected to shoot when presented with a sight of goal, allowing the Reading defence to get back into position and then, finding himself through with only the keeper to beat, he once again failed to get a shot away.

Aside from these chances, Reading very much had the upper hand and it was no surprise when they took the lead, Osho rising to head home convincingly.  But for a fine save from O'Hara, it might easily have been two before half-time, but Reading eventually added to their lead in the second half.  Once again a failure to deal with an aerial ball following a corner that allowed Smith to rise and head well beyond O'Hara's reach.

The nature of the goals conceded show that United's problem at this level isn't solely due to the lack of an established front man.  With Poole and Williams unavailable, a defence that kept the Reds safe in mid-table for much of the season now looks consistently vulnerable.  Axel Tuanzebe, while undoubtedly a fine prospect, now appears far less secure with midfielder Scott forced to take up defensive duties alongside him.

Yet the lack of that forward presence is undoubtedly a large part of the reason why United now stare the unthinkable possibility of relegation in the face.  Late in the game, Harrop floated a fine delivery into the box only for no team mate to gamble and attack the ball.   By now Gribbin was back in his more familiar midfield position and the move brought a greater balance to the team in the later stages but by then, of course, it was too late.

PL2 Derby County 5 United 3

A disappointing season for United's Under 23s continued with this loss at bottom side Derby County.  Although a minor fightback reduced the margin of defeat, the Reds remain in unfamiliar territory in the table.  Having been champions in three of the last four years, the Reds go into the run-in with relegation still an unthinkable possibility.

It was the Reds who took the lead when Gribbin's expertly placed free kick, awarded after Mitchell had been felled following a surge down the left, beat the keeper at his near post.  For a spell it looked most likely that United would increase their lead but Babos's superb strike from the edge of the area drew Derby level and, before half-time, Elsnick rose to meet Bennett's cross from the left and put the Rams ahead.

Although United had chances, Derby approached the second half like a team determined to add to their lead and the breakthrough came when Elsnick grabbed his second thanks to a wicked deflection off Tuanzebe that saw the ball loop over O'Hara to give the keeper no chance.   

It got worse moments later when Gordon pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area to drill the ball under O'Hara for Derby's fourth goal.  A fifth came when Elsnick capitalised on increasingly gaping holes in the United defence to lay on a simple ball for Jakobsen to score after the same player had blasted over only minutes earlier.  

The Reds made the scoreline look a little more respectable when Redmond latched onto a cross from Olosunde to strike the post before following up to score from the rebound.  With three minutes left Kehinde scored United's third after he was put through by Gribbin, whose increasing maturity on the ball was one of the few positives Nicky Butt can take out of this match.

Other than that, however, it was a pretty grim night for the Reds.  The result takes Derby off the foot of the table and leaves United only three points clear of the Premier League 2 relegation places with six games remaining.

PL2: Liverpool 0 United 1

Following the disappointment of failing to give a clearly inferior Liverpool side the hammering they deserved on Sunday, United's Under 23s delivered in the best possible way.  Deep into stoppage time, Matthew Willock rose in the area to get his head to a Goss free kick and the Reds put some much-needed distance between themselves and those in the relegation zone by stealing a win at Anfield in the most satisfying manner possible.

It's been a disappointing Premier League 2 season for United thus far and Liverpool, riding high in the table, will surely have been favourites to win this encounter.  Had they spent less time indulging the local pastime of righteous indignation every time a decision went against them, they may well have given themselves an opportunity to do so.  

There was certainly enough of that on display when, after a non-event of a first half, United were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute of a livelier second period.  In a manner of which their senior colleagues would surely have been proud, the home players surrounded the ref, presumably in an effort to remind him of the locally uncontested view that it is impossible for anyone wearing a Liverpool shirt to do anything wrong, after Gribbin had gone down in the area under a challenge from Lewis.  

In truth, the only questionable part of the decision was that Lewis escaped with a yellow.  Their histrionics turned out to be academic anyway when Goss's penalty was well saved by George.

And that appeared to be it.  With the clock running down and 0-0 looking ever more likely, Goss seized one final opportunity to make a difference and the quality of his free kick gave Willock the simplest of chances.  he duly obliged and the Under 23s grabbed a rare, but very pleasing, three away points.

Swansea 1 United 3

And suddenly it all looked so easy.  Mourinho and the United support won't be fooled of course: this Swansea side was a pale shadow of the one that terrorised Van Gaal's United here last season.  Still, the Reds have failed to turn dominance over weaker sides into goals on several occasions this season and there will be much relief in the United ranks at the ease with which they imposed themselves on this game and took their opportunities when they came.

And they came early.  Pogba opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute with a superb long range effort before Ibrahimovic brought his barren run to a end with two first half goals.  First he drilled home from the edge of the box to double United's lead before Rooney's finely judged pass allowed the Swede to outmuscle his marker and make it three for United just after the half-way mark.

United fans were understandably concerned about the absence of Herrera due to suspension but what the Reds missed in terms of his industry they made up for through the calmness and control of Carrick, who once again made a strong case for appearing more frequently in Mourinho's starting eleven.  Although there was no question that a toothless Swansea first half display made life easy for United, the veteran midfielder certainly played a major part in that too.

There's no question that those who played further forward from him benefited from his presence.  Rooney had his best game for some time while Pogba showed the kind of cocksure self-assurance Mourinho brought him back for and was able to influence the play in a manner we've only seen fleetingly until today.

Swansea did show more ambition in the second half, and even grabbed a consolation goal when Van Der Hoorn rose to head home Sigurdsson's free kick.  It was a reminder of the kind of thing that can happen if you don't convert your chances.  Thankfully, on this occasion United did and they left the Liberty Stadium as worthy winners.

Europa League: Fenerbahce 2 United 1

We always make life difficult for ourselves, Fergie used to say.  In his day, more often than not, we fought through those self-imposed difficulties to confound rivals and media commentators alike to come out on top.  Nowadays, the difficulties just seem to lead to yet more difficulties.  Here, even a draw would have left the Reds potentially one game away from qualification from the group.  Now, it looks like it could go to the wire.

The goal that put United behind after just ninety seconds was, to put it mildly, a bit special.  With his back to goal, Sow got his foot to a left-wing cross with the kind of exquisite overhead kick that even keepers as good as De Gea can do nothing about.

Although Fenerbahce continued to carry a real threat on the break - more of which later - the Reds dominated possession for the remainder of the first half, only to see their often incisive passing play fail to yield a result.  When United carved out a real clear-cut chance, Rooney's touch let him down after being set clear by Martial.

A limping Paul Pogba left the field to add to a growing United injury list and his replacement Ibrahimovic immediately brought a fiery presence to the field, in all senses of the word.  You felt he was bound to have some sort of impact on the game.  

Sadly, he faded out of it in the second half, but no more than the rest of the United team.  If the half-time substitution that brought Mata on for Schneiderlin was intended to introduce a more attacking formation, somehow it had the reverse effect.  The Reds looked nervy and struggled to string a decent series of passes together.  Fenerbahce were set up to hit them on the break and that's exactly what they did, Ibrahimovic finally having the wrong kind of impact on the game when he committed the foul that allowed Lens to step up and score from one of the most perfect free kicks you'll ever see.

The two goals will probably give De Gea nightmares for weeks.  His team mates looked like they were in the midst of one of their own as they struggled to get any kind of hold on the game and the most likely outcome seemed to be a third for the Turks, who squandered a series of chances as they broke freely through the gaping holes in the United midfield.

Out of the blue, it was Rooney who scored with the night's third terrific goal, a stunner from outside the box.  He might even have snatched an equaliser when Ismael rose to clear with his head from just inside the post.   However, it was a late flurry rather than the sustained onslaught United had needed and the Reds stand probably only one further poor performance away from Europa League elimination.

United 0 Burnley 0

After the horrors of Stamford Bridge and the heroism of the city game, United's supporters were forced to spend a frustrating afternoon as Burnley fought a disciplined rearguard action to walk away from Old Trafford with a point for the first time in the Premiership.

It wasn't difficult to predict the approach of the visitors.  Burnley would come to defend deep and attempt to frustrate and that was indeed very much the pattern of the first half.  Although the Reds would rue a couple of Ibrahimovic chances going begging - the first when he had only Heaton to beat - the visitors were well organised and, when it fell to Heaton to make an outstanding save from Lingard towards the end of the first half, the former United reserve keeper was up to the task.

If United had thrown everything but the kitchen sink at Burnley before the interval, after it they included the kitchen sink and added any contents they found lurking there.  A red tide engulfed the Burnley half but, thanks to a combination of excellent defending - another former Red, Michael Keane was outstanding - and some wayward finishing from United, the visitors held firm.

By now Mourinho was watching from the stands, having protested against the referee's failure to give a penalty when Darmian went over in the area just before half-time.  Like the rest of the crowd, he could only watch in disbelief as Mata finally beat Heaton only to see his shot strike the post.  Moments later it was Ibrahimovic's turn again to find himself frustrated as his header hit the bar.

Just as it looked like a goal was only a matter of time, United suffered the huge setback of Herrera's dismissal for a second yellow card.  The Reds were forced to see out the remaining 22 minutes of the game with ten men yet still had by far the best chances.  Ibrahimovic and Blind both went close before the Swede was found by a peach of a cross by Pogba, yet still couldn't get his shot on target.

After that, it was simply a matter of the excruciating countdown to the final whistle.  As with the last home game against Stoke, the Reds threw everything at the visitors but solid defending and a superb goalkeeper meant they lost yet more ground on the leading group.

PL2: Spurs 1 United 1

United will have been hoping for a win away to a Spurs side languishing in unfamiliar territory near the foot of the Premier League 2 table.  As it was, the Reds were forced to work hard to come away with a point in a second half in which better finishing might well have given the home side what would on balance have been a deserved victory.

Spurs showed a lot of endeavour early in the contest, but United managed to contain and it was the Reds who took the lead in the twentieth minute.  Picked out by a wonderful pass from Sean Goss (above) - making a welcome return after his long injury - Joe Riley cut into the area and produced a calm finish to score with United's first chance of the game.

The Londoners came into this game after a run of five successive defeats and it may have been hoped their heads would drop after going behind.  As it was, they were level just after the half hour mark.  Goddard's effort from the edge of the box was parried but the ball fell at the feet of Harrison, whose emphatic shot brought the equaliser.

Spurs' willingness to attack United in the second half belied their low league position and the home side went close to taking the lead when Harrison's shot struck the leg of Poole on its way to goal.  It was the best chance of many during a sustained spell of pressure from Tottenham.

Part of the problem for United was that Goss, who had bossed the midfield before the break, was inevitably tiring following his long period on the sidelines.  He was withdrawn with fifteen minutes remaining and, although United had a fresher look about them in the later stages, it was Spurs who went closest to grabbing a winner when Harrison failed to convert a Walker-Peters cross.

It's another disappointing result for an Under 23 side who are still to win away from home this season and who understandably continue to miss the presence of a genuine forward player within their ranks.  Once again, it was due to strong defending and sound organisation in the face of opposition pressure that the Reds were able to come away with a point.

EFL Cup: United 1 city 0

Following the capitulation at Stamford Bridge, you sensed that manager, team and fans all desperately needed this win and the collective sense of purpose that permeated Old Trafford brought a performance and victory that was more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

This was not a close encounter settled by a single goal.  After sparring with their city rivals for half an hour, United stepped up and produced a commanding second half performance that answered a lot of questions raised by those much- criticised smiles and shirt exchanges at the end of Sunday's game.

Both sides had looked edgy in the early stages but the Reds had begun to probe the city rearguard with more intent and, following the interval, they took the game to city in front of a noisy Stretford End.  With Carrick pulling the strings in midfield and Pogba and Herrera pushing further forward, United's play began to match the passion of the crowd and within ten minutes of the restart they'd scored the goal that proved crucial.

Ibrahimovic had set free Pogba a few minutes earlier only for the Frenchman's shot to be saved by Caballero.  It was a sign that the Swede was beginning to influence proceedings, however, and when he out-muscled his marker to break free on the left, his ball into the area found Mata, who stroked the ball neatly past the keeper.

It was no more than the Reds deserved and, although city had more of the possession as the game went on, they never looked like testing De Gea.  United's makeshift central defensive partnership of Rojo and Blind stood firm and, in Valencia, they possessed a player who combined defensive maturity with a constant attacking threat on the break.

Although the Reds failed to add to their tally, the lack of further goals to cement their dominance was of little concern to the celebrating United fans who hailed not merely victory over local rivals and progression to the quarter-finals of this competition, but an emphatic and much-needed response to that embarrassment at Chelsea.

Premier League 2: United 1 Arsenal 0

United's youngsters have faced some tough games this season against sides with older and more experienced players, but this was a young Arsenal team and the Reds just about edged a deserved victory thanks to an early goal from Ro-Shaun Williams.

It came after only six minutes, Williams stooping at the far post to score with a well-placed header.  Although Arsenal had the bulk of the possession in the first half, this largely consisted of fairly toothless probing of the comfortable United defence and it was the Reds who came closest to scoring the next goal, Olosunde finding himself through on goal in the closing minutes of the half, only for Arsenal keeper Keto to turn his shot wide.  

United took the game to Arsenal in the second half, pushing hard for a second goal but not producing an effort that threatened Keto until the keeper did superbly to keep out Harrop's shot from an angle in the 65th minute.  In what was now becoming a more open game, Hinds drew a save from Johnstone with his side's first shot on target and Poole did well to clear the danger deep in his own area following another dangerous attack from the Gunners.

Arguably United's two best players on the night, Riley and Harrop, linked well in an attack that saw the latter's effort saved but by that point United had seen off the best Arsenal had to offer and were able to see the game out for a well-earned three points.

Chelsea 4 United 0

Mourinho and United were unfairly criticised for alleged defensive tactics at Anfield but here, with a performance that sorely lacked any defensive discipline, the criticism the Reds will receive will be entirely warranted.

Whether United planned to contain or take the game to Chelsea we'll never know because it took only thirty seconds for the home side to score.  Confusion between Blind and Smalling allowed Pedro to sneak in and latch onto what was probably a misplaced pass to give his team the lead. 

Although the Reds offered some threat of their own, particularly through Valencia on the right, defensively they continued to look shaky and it was no surprise when Chelsea extended their lead.  United's inability to deal with a routine corner led to the ball falling to an unmarked Cahill, who stabbed home off Blind on the line.

Although the Reds pressed to get back into the game, they always looked vulnerable to Chelsea's counter-attacks and the midfield looked unable to control the game in the way they had for so much of the draw at Liverpool on Monday night.  Admittedly, Chelsea ought to have been a man down when an appalling challenge from David Luiz on Fellaini somehow resulted only in a yellow card.  However, there was no question that other things that didn't go their way in that first half were to a large degree of United's own making.

United were largely dominant in the early stages of the second half, but Chelsea continued to carry a threat on the break and when Hazard was allowed room in the box to drive his shot beyond De Gea it effectively ended the contest.  Then, when Kante found the same kind of space to drift into the area and score Chelsea's fourth, the scoreline became embarrassing.

The result leaves United some way off the pace in their pursuit of the Premiership's leading teams and the performance that yielded it will continue to raise questions about whether the Reds can be any more optimistic about Champions League qualification this season that they were last year.  As for Mourinho, he'll want to draw a line under this first visit to his former club as quickly as possible.

United 1 Stoke 1

Had it not been for a number of missed chances, a superb performance from Stoke keeper Lee Green and one moment of shambolic defending late in the game, United would surely have strolled to a fourth consecutive win and all the post-match talk would have been about a victory earned the United way and positive feelings to take into the international break.

Despite the disappointment of dropping two points, perhaps we shouldn't dismiss those positives too easily.  After all, many Reds were heard to say last season that, if we failed to win, at least it would be good to do so the United way.  That was certainly what happened here.  United swarmed all over Stoke early on, with Grant keeping out efforts from Lingard and Mata and Pogba spurning two excellent chances in front of goal.

There were enough chances for United to have gone in at half-time four-nil up for the second weekend running.  Perhaps the failure to go ahead explained why the Reds looked a little more sluggish after the break, but they soon got into their stride again and Herrera and Ibrahimovic both struck shots narrowly wide as United pushed for a breakthrough.

It came, as on Thursday, following a substitution.  Martial's introduction saw him take up Rashford's position on the left, with the youngster moving to the right, and it was the former who put United ahead, unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

It was no more than United deserved and, at that point, it looked as if it might finally open the floodgates.  Sadly, though, from a rare attack, Joe Allen bundled over the line after Walters' shot had deflected off Eric Bailly.  Even then, United might have snatched it, with Grant making another fine save from Ibrahimovic and Pogba hitting the crossbar.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Reds.  Even so, there are clear signs that Mourinho is settling on a line-up and a way of playing that will surely bring greater rewards in the future.  Frankly, we've often seen United in recent seasons play worse than this and win.

Europa League: United 1 Zorya Luhansk 0

United were forced to work hard for this win by well-organised opponents who defended stubbornly and frustrated the Reds until Ibrahimovic's second half strike broke the deadlock.

Chances were at a premium throughout the game and, aside from a shot from Rashford that crashed against the bar, United's dominance of possession brought them few chances.  Mata in particular was given little space in which to operate while Ibrahimovic was frequently forced into deep positions.  Some of the Swede's touches were sublime, however, and it always seemed likely that, should the Reds made a breakthrough, he would be involved.

It was the second half introduction of Rooney that brought the crucial goal in the 69th minutes.  His arrival saw Mata move to the right and, for the first time in the match, the Spaniard broke free of the tight marking and, when the ball arrived in the box, it fell to Rooney.  He snatched at the chance but his shot bounced towards the far post where Ibrahimovic was on hand to score with his head.

Zorya threatened occasionally on the break, on one occasion forcing a smart save from Romero, but United rarely looked troubled defensively.  Many United supporters will point to the absence of Herrera in midfield as the reason for build-up play that was laboured at times and there was a sense that an injection of pace in the middle of the park might well have broken through the visitors' defensive set-up earlier.

Ultimately, though, the three points were in the bag and United are off the mark in the Europa League group stage.

PL2: Everton 2 United 0

United were, sadly, thoroughly outplayed at Southport as Everton strolled to a 2-0 victory.  

Once again, a United team without a recognised striker lacked penetration and the best of the first half action was in the Reds' area.  In the absence of that forward threat, United have relied on a solid defence this season but both Everton goals had an element of United pressing the self-destruct button about them.  

The home side took the lead in the first half when Poole's pass across his own goal allowing Calvert-Lewin to sneak in and score past the helpless Sam Johnstone.   It wasn't an isolated moment. United often looked stretched at the back as Everton sought to increase their advantage after the break.  It wasn't long before they did so, with Poole again at fault, this time on a corner as he failed to rise for an aerial challenge with Niasse, who comfortably scored with his head.

The introduction of substitutes Mitchell, Olosunde and Kehinde freshened United up and they had most of the possession in what remained of the match.  However, a well-organised Everton defence kept the Reds at bay and only Harrop's header late on, which was cleared off the line, came close to kick-starting what would admittedly have been an unlikely United comeback.

United v Leicester reaction: Daley Blind's importance to United can't be overlooked

I don't remember the last time I saw United score from three corners in a game.  Nor do I recall the last time I saw a better series of corners than those taken by Daley Blind in United's 4-1 demolition of Leicester.

Although the away side's defending was admittedly woeful, Blind exploited this perfectly with two excellent crosses from which Smalling and Pogba would have found it difficult not to score.  Sandwiched between them was the imaginative short ball to pick out Mata's run and provide Rashford with the kind of opportunity he just doesn't pass up.

But the rest of Blind's game deserves praise too.  Having lost his place in central defence to the returning Smalling, Shaw's injury gave Blind the chance to operate at left-back, a position he filled with some distinction during the brief period of hope that was the spring of 2015.

He proved a more than worthy replacement, helping to neutralise the considerable threat down Leicester's right side early in the game and getting forward at every opportunity to link with Rashford, another player who shows every sign of grabbing the opportunity of a new position with both hands.

Prior to Mourinho's arrival, Blind was near the top of many people's lists of being under threat.  Having played in central defence throughout 2015-16, it was widely predicted that Blind did not have the physical attributes to appeal to the new boss in that position.  Not only that, but Mourinho's stated preference for 'specialists' cast a serious doubt over whether this most adaptable of utility players would still have a place at United

Smalling's injury gave Blind the chance to prove his worth and he certainly did so, forming an impressive partnership with Eric Bailly in those early games.  But being adaptable does have its drawbacks.  Can he mount a long-term challenge to Luke Shaw for the left-back berth?  Given the number of central midfielders at the club now, can he ever hope to return to that role in the future?

Daley Blind's ability to perform in so many different positions may be what prevents him from ever holding down a regular place in one of them.  After his performance yesterday, though, it's an issue to which Mourinho needs to give some thought, because his positional sense, intelligence and movement off the ball yesterday were crucial factors in the Reds' convincing victory.  And with the increased height in United's side this season, having someone who can take a decent corner isn't to be sniffed at either.

United 4 Leicester 1

There will be those who, of course, simplify this result under a headline of

'Rooney dropped - United win', but it was much more satisfying than that.  Although some poor Leicester defending contributed to their defeat, for half an hour in the first half United imposed their game on their opponents in a manner we've not seen for far too long and ran out comfortable winners.

In truth, it had looked a fairly even contest at first.  United clearly carried much greater menace up front, but Leicester's pace was a threat and they enjoyed a decent share of the play.  All that changed in the 22nd minute when Blind's corner was met by the head of Smalling at the far post and United took the lead.

It was debatable which aspect of the goal was most reassuring - the delivery from Blind or the United players queuing to get on the end of it.  It put United in control anyway and, in a blistering five minutes later in the half, they put the game beyond the champions.

Although the visitors' defensive organisation was poor, the way United probed and exploited the spaces they left was impressive.  Mata found himself in acres of space in the area to add a second, while two further Blind corners produced two more goals.  The first was a clever short ball into the box for Mata, whose ball across the goal was prodded home by Rashford while the second found Pogba, whose header brought his first United goal and the fourth of the afternoon.

Understandably, United took their foot off the gas in the second half and, although Leicester pulled one back through a brilliant strike from Gray, the Reds ultimately coasted to a deserved win, avoiding the prospect of a third successive league defeat and producing some inspired football at times.  The game settled, there was even the opportunity to introduce Rooney from the bench late in the second half to warm applause from the crowd.  What a difference a win makes.

EFL Cup: Northampton 1 United 3

There had been a few wobbles at the end of the first half but in the end, United saw off Northampton comfortably with a strong and disciplined second half performance, even though Mourinho had needed to bring some of his big guns off the bench in order to achieve it.

United looked in control in the early stages and opened the scoring following the award of an indirect free kick in the area after a back-pass to the keeper.  Although Rooney's initial shot hit the wall, the rebound fell to Carrick on the edge of the area and he placed a delightful shot into the top corner.

Carrick, included for the first time this season, was giving the kind of passing display that has been so sorely missed of late, making his omission from the line-up this season even more curious.  He was also providing the kind of shield for the defence that was so absent at Watford on Sunday. 

As a result, Northampton took a while to make headway with their long-ball game.  However, when Gorre did get free to graze the crossbar with a shot eight minutes before the break, the effort seemed to inspire belief in both the crowd and his team and minutes later they were level.  Messy defending from United ended with Blind's trip on Hoskins in the area and Ravell stepped up to score decisively from the spot.

It was, to a large degree, yet another case of self-inflicted damage by United.   Mourinho's demeanour clearly revealed his displeasure and,  although the Reds started the second half on the front foot, it took only eight minutes for the manager to decide a change was needed and Ibrahimovic and Rashford were introduced. 

Shortly after, Herrera struck a superb shot from outside the area that struck the post and, next time he got a sight of goal, the Basque made no mistake.  Set up by Rashford's lay-off, his powerful shot gave Smith no chance as United made their second half dominance pay.  It was Rashford who extended the lead further in bizarre circumstances.  The youngster deserved enormous credit for not giving up on a high looping ball the keeper looked about to clear easily.  However, Smith failed to connect and Rashford was on hand to run the ball into the empty net.   

In the end the potentially tricky hurdle that presented itself just before half-time was overcome with ease by United.  Following the withdrawal of Fosu-Mensah early in the half, Rojo and Young had pushed up the pitch from the full-back positions, minimising the home side's threat on the flanks.  In other words, this was a second half in which Mourinho's instructions were carried out to the letter.  Hopefully that can begin to happen in the Premier League too.  If so, the manager might find it difficult to continue to keep Michael Carrick, who orchestrated the plan perfectly from beginning to end, on the sidelines.

PL2: United 3 Derby 2

An entertaining game at Old Trafford saw United eventually run out winners by the odd goal in five thanks to a brace from Scott McTominay (left) either side of a Josh Harrop penalty.

Although Derby saw a lot of the ball early on, United looked in control and were deservedly ahead within twenty minutes.  Harrop's cross was met by McTominay, who rose brilliantly to head the ball into the roof of the net.  

As with the victory over Villareal last week, much of United's most dangerous play came down the left and a run and cross from Riley almost brought a second when McTominay's shot struck the post and the midfielder went close again moments later, also following a cross from the left.  

United rued these missed chances when Derby drew level.  With Poole and Tuanzebe again coping admirably with anything the away side produced in open play, a set-piece had always looked like Derby's best chance of a goal and so it proved, Vernon nodding the ball over the line from a corner.

It was the lively Josh Harrop who restored United's lead mid-way through the second half.  After a surging run into the area, he was clumsily brought down and stepped up to take the penalty himself, striking it firmly into the bottom corner.  Derby struck back, however, and it was once again Vernon on target, doing brilliantly to get between two United defenders to fire hoe a bullet header.   

United weren't about to settle for that, however, and they took the lead again late in the game.  Riley's cross found substitute Olosunde in the box, who was dispossessed, but the ball fell to McTominay, who decisively stabbed home his second of the night.  

Derby again showed spirit in their attempts to push for a third equaliser but, aside from an O'Hara save from a free kick in stoppage time, United rarely looked troubled in the closing minutes and hung on to secure all three points 

Jose, We Need To Talk About Rooney...

The most depressing thing about United’s recent performances, for me, hasn’t been any of the things the irate Twitterati have been venting their spleen over.  It isn’t Rooney’s decline, Pogba’s inability to make an impact or Carrick’s apparent permanent seat on the bench that are bothering me, though these are all symptoms.  Rather more worryingly, it’s that Mourinho gives the impression of being uncharacteristically hesitant in addressing such issues.

It’s the last thing we expected of him.  Never a great Mourinho fan, I accepted he was the inevitable choice simply because I thought there was no way he’d fall into the trap of his two predecessors.  David Moyes always looked caught between an attempt to go with his own tried and trusted methods and a desire to show faith in the United way and got the balance completely wrong.  Van Gaal, in contrast, always seemed to project the belief that he knew what he was doing, but his teams’ performances often said something else entirely, indicating that his players had no more belief in his methods than the fans did.

Mourinho, I thought, might upset us by not prioritising some of the things we most cherish about our club – youth development, for instance – but he’ll surely have the self-belief to do things his own way and from that, at least in the short-term, we’ll surely benefit.

So it’s been baffling, in particular, to see his approach to United’s midfield selections.  Having paid a world record fee for Paul Pogba, we’ve seen him moved about the midfield positions between and even within games: This from a coach who has publicly stated his intention to field players in their specialist positions. Michael Carrick, meanwhile, hasn’t kicked a ball in earnest so far, despite Mourinho’s desire to keep him at the club.  Surely the most familiar Mourinho midfield would be one that sees Pogba’s energy complemented by Carrick’s tactical nous?  If not, then what of Morgan Schneiderlin, one of the few players to emerge from the Feyenoord debacle with any credit?

I know I’m not the first to say it, but the whole thing points to a need to accommodate Rooney, who he played in midfield at Watford despite assuring us at the start of the season he did not intend to use him in that role.  I’m not one to follow the instant condemnation line of those who populate Twitter and I do genuinely attempt to see it from the coach’s point of view but, given his earlier pronouncements, it was a baffling selection and one that leaves me concerned that Mourinho, like Van Gaal and Moyes, may be over-complicating a simple situation purely because the easier decision – leave Rooney out – is somehow less palatable.

Rooney’s place in the starting line-up isn’t the only issue Mourinho has to resolve (and, yes, I know he wasn’t even playing at Feyenoord and we were still very poor), but it’s probably the most significant one because it’s hard to see how other players can flourish in their best positions as long as he’s there.  Wayne Rooney is no longer our best centre forward, our best number ten or our best attacking midfielder.  Ergo, he shouldn’t be in the side unless those who are better than him are unavailable.   This isn’t anything against Rooney: it’s just a cold, hard appraisal of the situation.  The ability to carry out that kind of assessment – recall his treatment of Mata at Chelsea - is something on which much of Mourinho’s considerable reputation is based.

Whether the Mourinho of repute will finally stand up and make a decision on an issue that his two predecessors so painfully dodged might well be the difference between whether he succeeds or follows them into the post-Fergie hall of managerial ignominy.