Sir Alex Ferguson was absent – the official cover a scouting trip to watch Valencia, Manchester United’s next Champions League opponents – but it mattered little to the shadow side at Glandford Park. United’s fringe players overcame a shaky start and a Scunthorpe United goal, to score five and progress in the Carling Cup, thanks to a Michael Owen brace.
Assistant manager Mike Phelan oversaw the squad in Ferguson’s absence, only the third game the United manager has ever missed while in charge at Old Trafford. But Ferguson had little cause for concern with United eventually running out comfortable winners in Lincolnshire.
Owen’s double, a first goal in professional football for Chris Smalling, Darron Gibson’s classy finish and Park Ji-Sung ensured a positive result for Phelan on his big night. With Rio Ferdinand completing 90 minutes, Smalling outstanding at the back and Bébé performing brightly in a 15 minute cameo, the assistant has many positives to report back when Ferguson returns to Manchester.
“Rio’s done well, but I thought also Michael Owen did exceptionally well. He showed what a top, top player he is and he contributed to everything tonight – he covered the ground really well,” said Phelan, who spent much of the night gazing into space while looking pensive.
“We have a young player in Chris Smalling who did well, then there were Kiko Macheda and Chicharito, and we introduced Bébé as well. The keeper (Tomasz Kuszczak) did exceptionally well. He dealt with everything that came his way.”
But United’s shadow team began on the back foot, with Championship minnows Scunthorpe taking the game to its more illustrious opponents in the compact Glandford Park. Indeed, Kuszczak was called into action early with Josh Wright and Martyn Woolford going close, and Tomasz Kuszczak forced to save from Eddie Nolan’s long-range shot.
United’s 4-3-3 system, which pushed Javier Hernández and Federico Macheda into unfamiliar wide positions, played into the home side’s hands, with Scunthorpe exploiting space on United’s flanks during the first period. The unthinkable, a home goal, was in fact much deserved as Wright lashed home from 25 yards after Woolford’s run on 19 minutes.
The lead and any thoughts of a cup upset lasted barely five minutes when Gibson lobbed the Scunthorpe ‘keeper after Smalling’s raking long pass. The Irishman, who’d begun the game in sloppy fashion by losing possession more than once, scored his second goal of the season.
With Scunthorpe playing attractive attacking football United was able to open up the home side almost at will, with Park finding Smalling and the defender smartly finishing on the volley ten minutes before the break.
Goals three, four and five followed shortly after the interval with Owen released by Macheda to score his fourth Carling Cup goal in as many starts for United in the tournament. The striker, largely ignored for anything but the least important matches, is quickly falling down the ranks at United.
Park lashed home United’s fourth from the edge of the area before Owen tapped home the South Korean’s drive to complete the scoring. Woolford’s late consolation for the home side was little more than Scunthorpe deserved for a spirited display.
Although United’s shape crammed more square pegs into round holes than is usual, with Rafael da Silva joining Hernandez and Macheda out of position, width finally came in the form of late substitutes Gabriel Obertan and Bébé. The £7.4 million Portuguese forward looked bright running with the ball, beating two men and striking a blocked goal-bound shot with his first taste of action.
“The scoreline gave us the opportunity to give Bébé a little look at what Manchester United’s all about. I thought he responded very well,” Phelan told MUTV.
“There were fleeting moments of pace and power, and he got a little bit excited now and again. But it’s important that players like him get these opportunities.”
Even better than Bébé, Smalling showed some of the talent that prompted United to seal a £10 million deal for the defender in January. The 6’ 4″ centre-back looked composed on the ball and dominant in the air against the Championship side, in a man-of-the-match performance.
Incredibly the official award went to Kuszczak, who made 19 saves on the night but flapped at several crosses and spilled more than one shot. That, Tomasz, is why you don’t play every week.
“Since he’s come in, he’s become sharper every day,” said Smalling of Bébé’s début.
“He’s really improving and working on his fitness. Tonight he really caused their full-back problems, coming in from the wing, and hopefully we’ll see him produce that kind of form in many games to come.”
United fans will concur.
Match facts
United – 433 – Kuszczak; Ferdinand, Brown, Smalling, Rafael Da Silva; Anderson, Park Ji-Sung (Bebe 74), Gibson; Owen, Hernandez (Obertan 68), Macheda
Attendance: 9,077
Man-of-the-Match: Chris Smalling
Possession: Scunthorpe 51% – 49% United
Attempts: 29 – 13
On target: 19 – 12
Corners: 9 – 5
Fouls: 5 – 8
Still find it odd that Ferige wasn’t there. I suppose the result vindicates the decision, but just find it strange.
Putting 2 and 2 together, you would have to assume that the Valencia game had the added bonus of seeing David de Gea too.
Last night there were lots of positives, Smalling and Rio being the best I thought but there were some negatives. Hernandez is clearly not happy out wide and again the midfield was sloppy in possession and slow to close down. Wasn’t impressed with Ando just walking around. Looking forward to seeing more Bebe (he seemed to enjoy the streaker!).
No matter what people say, Gibson has something special about him. That goal was very classy. But his passing, tackling and general influence on the game is poor. He’s bascially the new Lampard.
I know he scored a brace – and I know it’s been said before – but why, oh why, do we have to accommodate Owen by pushing a genuinely exciting young prospect out to the wing? I’d much prefer Macheda and Hernandez to play all the way through this cup run
…through the middle I mean
Why? Because form is temporary, class is permanent. Owen… he’s 30. He’s not “past it”. Would you be against a swan song to a promising, yet unfulfilled career? Macheda is over-rated (currently) but I do think Hernandez is going to be used more – he’s very much in the Owen mould. Which raises a point; Owen last night for his first goal. If he’s lost a bit of pace, he’s still really bloody quick. Hernandez will blossom, that’s obvious, but I’d still rather play Owen right now.
Don’t under any circumstances think I’m a fan of Judas. But as a piece of footballing business, SAF has done well here.
It’s nice though. Was a bit gloomy at the very start of the season but Berba actually gives the impression he’ll keep his form (and therefore his head) up. Rooney and Berbatov, backed up by Owen and Hernandez… it’s not bad.
… if only we had a 28 year old Keano around. That’s what we lack.
Thought Scunny were a breath of fresh air after Rangers. Small ground, attacking football & crowd within touching distance reminded me of 80s football!
On the subject of Owen, he may not be the player he was or is the future of the club, but you can’t deny he knows where the onion bag is. 1st goal was classic Owen.
On the subject of Anderson he just didn’t look right to me, I think he’s still not 100% fit. I think Macheda looked a bit lost in that 4-3-3.
I am guessing he is at least a couple of games from full fitness. If he can get his game up we can play the three man midfield that fergie prefers in Europe.
Kiko looked pissed off the whole match.
I am still trying to work out how United won the match by such a comfortable margin. The keeper was shaky behind a decent defensive foursome (I thought Smalling did particularly well), the three-man midfield was almost invisible, and of the three strikers deployed, only Owen did well – Macheda had trouble staying onside, and then missed his chances when he did, while Chichartio was knocked to the floor so often and with such apparent ease that I thought he must be Park Ji-Sung’s Mexican cousin.
On the plus side, who would have guessed that Smalling could produce a pass worthy of Paul Scholes or that Gibson was capable of scoring a goal more likely to come from the classy Berbatov?
A bit harsh on Kuszczak, no? Every keeper will occasionaly spill a cross. Yes he only blocked several shots instead of holding them but with the new balls it’s sometimes impossible to determine for sure their flight. The quickest reaction is to simply block the shot. In that, Tomasz did great. In fact, it would be ridiculous to hand Smalling the M-O-M award when he allowed 19 shots to be sent towards Tomasz’s goal, despite him scoring and assisting.
I thought Anderson got better as the game wore on. At first he struggled with the pace but gradually it slowed down to his liking. Once he’s fully fit he’ll be setting the tempo himself.
pfft…no fergie for the game
LKHP
Common guys wat a great all round performance.Park made some great runs, Anderson was awesome, i think he is developing into a complete all round midfielder. Micheal owen showed his class.
I do think manutd still needs an attacking midfielder in the Modric or Ozil mould to give these strikers upfront tailor made passes, quite as number of strikers are suffering from lack of creativity from the middle, i hope Tom Cleverly could fill those shoes.
Smallings had a great game, i hope he keeps it up.
Gibson not one of my fav players was alright,hey! Gibbo great goal. i caught glimpses of Bebe, nice footwork.