Manchester United vs Derby Match Analysis
 |
| Source: Manchester United |
Manchester United started their Carabao cup campaign against Derby County at Old Trafford, where they looked return to some form following a recent draw against newly promoted Wolves in the Premier League last weekend. This was just one of United’s early season disappointments, so it was imperative that Manchester United got off to a winning start in this year’s cup campaign.
As expected the team sheet saw many changes from the game last weekend with Mourinho using the full depth of his squad and giving run outs to players on the fringes of the first team. This game saw a return for United’s number two goalkeeper Sergio Romero, as well as a full defensive overhaul with four changes being made. Additionally, the Spanish duo of Ander Herrera and Juan Mata returned to the team after both having spells away from the starting eleven.
Manchester United XI: Sergio Romero, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, Ander Herrera (c), Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard
Derby XI: Scott Carson, Jayden Bogle, Richard Keogh, Fikayo Tomori, Craig Forsyth, Craig Bryson, Bradley Johnson, Mason Bennett, Mason Mount, Harry Wilson, David Nugent
The game started off excellently for United as within the first two minutes they were in front with a superbly worked goal that was eventually finished off coolly by Juan Mata. The move was started by Herrera before being played out to martial on the left, who after some excellent work played it to Lukaku, who neatly laid it off to Lingard leaving the Derby defence in tatters. The ball was finally moved to Mata who was in acres of space and with his first touch curled his shot into the bottom corner. The game opened up after the goal and for a while it was end to end with both United and Derby missing great opportunities Derby in the form of a great chance for Mount that was saved by Romero and United in the form of Mata and Lukaku both squandering golden opportunities to kill the game off early. The game quietened down after the electric first opening 15 minutes, however United still looked a threat with Martial bombing down the left wing and causing the Derby defence huge problems. The rest of the half saw some promising attacks for United but none led to anything and at the end of the first half it was 1-0 to United.
The second half started extremely poorly for United as Derby pressed and pressed for an equaliser, which they were almost successful with if it wasn’t for a great Romero save. The second half continued in this way and United seemed to get worse and worse as the game progressed. This meant that in the 59th minute when Wilson, a Liverpool loanee, scored from a free-kick it came as no surprise to any United fans; though it has to be said that the free-kick by Wilson was top quality and a well deserved goal by Derby. The game went from bad to worse for United as in the 65th minute Sergio Romero rushed out of his area and touched the ball with his hand resulting in him getting a red card, this meant United would have to see the rest of the game out with 10 men and their third choice goalkeeper Lee Grant in net.
It once again looked like it wasn’t Lukaku’s or United’s night, as soon after the sending off his shot hit the frame of the Derby goal but came back out as another chance went astray. The pressure kept on building as United pushed for the lead once again but nothing was coming off for them, much to the frustration of both the team and the fans. To fully nail in the disappointment and utter disgrace that was this performance, in the 85th minute Derby scored to take the lead, as a decent shot came in from outside the box for Derby and after a good save it fell straight to Derby player Marriott.
United thought they had rescued the game late on with a 95th Minute header by Fellaini forcing the game to a penalty shootout. After 15 successful penalties it came down to Phil Jones, however his spot kick was saved by Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson.The misery for United fans was consolidated as the penalty went in, confirming their elimination from the Carabao cup in their first and only game of their campaign.
