Northampton V Manchester United:

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United looked to put an end to their 3 game losing streak at they travelled to the Sixfields Stadium to take on Northampton Town in the EFL Cup. United had been on the end of 3 consecutive losses to Manchester City, Feyenoord and on Sunday a 3-1 defeat away to Watford in the Premier League. As expected, United coach Mourinho made changes to his side, 9 infact, with Sergio Romero, Timothy Fosu-Mensah,Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Morgan Schneiderlin, Michael Carrick, Memphis, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young coming into the starting XI. Former Aberdeen centre half Xander Diamond started for Rob Page's side.

Man United got us underway at Sixfields and made a promising start early on as a wonderful pass from Carrick found Memphis Depay and the Dutch man laid off to Wayne Rooney and the former Everton mans shot was held well by Smith in the Northampton goal. The best chance so far fell to Wayne Rooney again after Carrick's deflected shot fell to Ashley Young and his pass to Rooney couldn't be converted from the lone striker tonight. United were clearly looking to settle down with an early goal and Got the perfect chance when Smith picked up the ball form a back pass inside his own area. Memphis and Rooney stood over it with Memphis laying it off to the latter who's shot was blocked easily but fell to Michael Carrick's who's first time effort left Smith for dead and powered into the keeper's top corner to give United a 1-0 lead inside 20 minutes. Northampton were pressing for an immediate response and from a corner, Diamond kept it alive before Revell tried a volley that went well over Romero's bar without troubling the Argentine. United thought they had scored a second only for the linesman to raise his flag. A fantastic build up from the away side ended with Morgan Schneiderlin finding Fosu-Mensah with a wonderful ball and the full backs header cannoned off the back with Wayne Rooney's converting the reboun, only to be adjudged a yard offside. Moments later, Northampton nearly had an equaliser, Gorre breaks down the left and turns Fosu-Mensah inside out before having a go from the edge of the area before seeing his effort kiss the bar on the way over. Northampton had a golden opportunity to level things up after some torrid defending from United'ls back four lead to a penalty as Daley Blind brought down Sam Hoskins. Alex Revell steps up to take the spot kick and send Romero the wrong way and finds the net to make it 1-1.

Northampton get us underway in the second half with Memphis testing Adam Smith after cutting in from the left, easy stop. Northampton make their first change with John Joe O'Toole replacing Harry Beautyman. Jose Mourinho made changes of his own as Zlatan Ibrahimovic replaced the again disappointing Memphis Depay while Marcus Rashford replaced Timothy Fosu-Mensah, with Ashley Young slotting in at right back. The away side were inches away from taking the lead as Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera sees his effort smack off the post no trickle wide. Northampton make their second of three substitutes with Alfie Potter replacing Kenji Gorre with just under 30 minutes to play. A great tackle from Manchetser United's Morgan Schneiderlin set Unite up and running with Marcus Rashford teeing up Ander Herrera who lets the ball run across his body before finding the net with a first time right footed try, 2-1 United. Northampton made their final change as Jak McCourt is replaced by by Marc Richards. United also introduced their final change as Belgin midfielder Marouane Fellaini replaces Morgan Schneiderlin for the last 15 odd minutes. A Northampton corner, dude lay ended up in a United third after a long ball up field from Ander Herrera bounced and outsmarted keeper Adam Smith who hesitated and missed his clearance and the determined Marcus Rashford stole the ball and tapped home as Smith tried to bring him down, game over.  United's Michael Carrick was awarded the man of the match award as Mourinho's United got back to winning ways and progressed to the round 4 draw.

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