Manchester United 3-0 Ipswich: Wayne Rooney and teenagers Andreas Pereira and Anthony Martial see Red Devils through

 

Wayne Rooney scored goal number 235 for Manchester United and Andreas Pereira his first as Louis van Gaal underlined why he is convinced both the present and future at Old Trafford are in safe hands.

 

A year on from the embarrassment of losing 4-0 at MK Dons in which Pereira played 45 minutes, this was a far happier Capital One Cup story for the Dutchman

He will have been pleased that his captain justified being restored to a central striker's role with a classy first-half finish. 

 

And even more so that United's second-half goals were scored by a pair of teenagers, Pereira with an outstanding free-kick on his first start and £36million substitute Anthony Martial in injury-time for his fourth in four games.

 

'I asked Juan (Mata) for the ball and he gave it to me. He trusted me,' smiled Pereira whose previous first-team experience had been limited to two appearances as a substitute.

 

'It is a relief for me that all the work I have put in has paid off. It was like a dream come true to score my first goal, a free-kick at the Stretford End as well.

'Last year at MK Dons was not so good, we went out. But this is very special.'

 

There should be a clear health warning alongside the feel-good atmosphere inside The Theatre of Dreams.

 

Championship side Ipswich fielded 11 changes from their last league game with manager Mick McCarthy admitting: 'I could have put out any team and probably still be beaten.'

 

Van Gaal took no chances with his line-up. Big-hitters David de Gea, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Rooney were included with Pereira his only concession to youth.

 

The 19-year-old midfield player, born in Belgium but a Brazil youth international through family ties, fully justified his selection. His bright orange boots were constantly on the move and he fired in a series of shots at goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

 

Predictably, United hogged the possession. Pereira had two efforts on goal and United appealed loudly for a penalty when the ball struck Giles Coke's arm, but not deliberately according to referee Simon Hooper. 

 










culled from daily mail