Rejuvenated Marcus Rashford shines as Man Utd hit Barnsley for seven

Two goals apiece from Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen, plus the rare sight of one from Antony, made this a perfect night for Erik ten Hag as he continued his excellent record in domestic cups.
Contrary to the view of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ten Hag often appears to view the cups with as much weight as he does the Premier League although, with his team absent from the Champions League again this year, that view is presumably shared by few executives around Old Trafford.
But, in terms of that broader prognosis, Rashford’s continued improvements, plus a first start of the season for Antony, along with an electrifying performance from Garnacho, were all big pluses for him to take into the league campaign.
Ten Hag’s predecessor Solskjaer once famously described cup competitions as “an ego thing” for managers who should, instead, be focusing on competing for honours in the league.
But, given how long it has been since United have found themselves in contention for the Premier League title, Ten Hag could hardly be criticised for having put such store in the domestic cups, a policy rewarded by his team lifting the FA Cup last season and the Carabao Cup a year earlier.
Early signs in the current campaign are that Ten Hag is well-advised, again, to identify cups as the chance to ease the pressure that inevitably builds on him with every set-back in the league.
There were first starts, therefore, for window arrival Manuel Ugarte and promising youngster Toby Collyer, a home debut for back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and a first start since early May for Antony.
But this was hardly an experimental or second string selection from the Dutchman whose record in domestic cups with United over his first two seasons saw him win 18 and lose just two of 20 ties.
For Collyer, there was an anxious opening minute, when he misjudged a ball and beaten by Barry Cotter whose cross was confidently gathered by Bayindir.
And moments later, the youngster, playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, conceded a free-kick which required more committed defending from United, following Adam Phillips’ decent delivery.
Antony, slowly working his way back into the feel of first team football, showed early willing but it was Rashford who finally gave Barnsley cause for concern, seeing an exciting run ending in a shot blocked by Marc Roberts and having two more strikes similarly charged down from the resulting corner.
And Rashford it was who opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a goal that owed everything to a superb cross-field pass from Alejandro Garnacho, gathering a ball from Christian Eriksen and switching play instantly.
As he had moments earlier, Rashford tore at the defence, beating a terrified Roberts, before lashing the ball into the roof of the goal from 15 yards.
Still, United’s habit of carelessly conceding free-kicks, and Collyer’s continued travails, pointed to the need for a second goal, something that Garnacho and Rashford looked the best candidates to deliver.
The former saw one goal-bound effort charged down by a defender, although the flag had already been raised for offside and Slonina sprinted from his area on 32 minutes to beat Rashford to a loose ball.
The pressure was building and Slonina it was who cracked first, as Antony chased a Rashford through ball and, despite apparently posing no immediate threat, the Barnsley keeper tripped the Brazilian winger.
Antony it was, clearly being offered the chance of a morale-boosting goal, who took the spot kick, converting well after a stutter-step run-up for his first United goal of the season, after scoring just three times in the whole of last term.
Any prospect of Barnsley staging an unlikely comeback from there was eradicated, once and for all, in the second minute of first half stoppage time when Rashford, again, slalomed through the visitors’ defence.
The ball eventually cannoned off a defender’s body and fell kindly for Garnacho who had space and time to sweep the ball into the corner of the goal from six yards.
Four minutes after the restart, a comfortable night became a rout with Barnsley losing their shape and pushing up and Eriksen only too happy to take advantage with a pass from inside his own half that sent Garnacho racing clear.
The youngster showed the sort of composure that is not always part of his arsenal in waiting for Slonina to commit himself and curling the ball into the corner.
Before the hour was up, Rashford had his second and United’s fifth although the irrepressible Garnacho was again involved as his pass found the striker in space in the Barnsley area from where he was able to produce a tidy left-foot finish.
Eriksen ensured that what was already United’s biggest win under Ten Hag became even more so, in the 80th minute, when he tapped in a Bruno Fernandes cross from six yards.
And the exhausted visitors had no response as Fernandes passed the ball around quickly and confidently to set up Eriksen whose shot from the edge of the area made it 7-0 four minutes later.
The start of the game was hard, but once we found the patterns and the shape – because this team has not played together – starting with the goal of Rashford, we were ruthless. The key was finding the shape and the right attitude. It was enjoyable to watch, and you could feel the bound between the team and the fans.
When I see the teeth of Marcus Rashford, I am calm, composed and confident he is going to score.
Last season was difficult for everybody, but at the end we won and trophy and found the targets we wanted. This year we want to progress, we are very ambitious.
I was not devastated after Liverpool. Now I am not celebrating. We are on a journey, we will see where we are in May.
Sometimes you have ups, sometimes you have downs. We have to use these games to find consistency. 
As a front unit linking with the midfield, I thought we did well today and after the first goal we found better spaces and made better decisions. 
The first minutes of the game we had to get into it. After the first goal it got easier, we found more space. We were clinical.
United are into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and that was the ideal night for Ten Hag: no injuries, Garnacho and Rashford scoring a couple apiece and a full debut for Manuel Ugarte. 10 goals and two victories in United’s last two outings after consecutive defeats. Green shoots? It will not spare them should things go wrong at Selhurst Park on Saturday. That should be a decent test but United go into it with some of their forwards sparking into life.
Zirzkee with a shot on the turn but Slonina gets down well to make the stop. The pain is nearly over for Barnsley, just the three minutes of stoppage time to play.
Eriksen waiting 13 months for a United goal, and has now scored two in four minutes. Barnsley’s defence is disheveled but it was smart interplay around the box and Eriksen swept a fine finish into the far corner. 
Garnacho comes off to a standing ovation, having scored three goals in a matter of days. He is replaced by Amad Diallo.
Eriksen has been involved in the construction of several United goals tonight and now he is on the scoresheet. Garnacho fed Fernandes on the overlap, and Eriksen was on hand to turn his low cross beyond the goalkeeper. Eriksen’s first United goal for 13 months.
Another long spell of possession around the Barnsley box from United, pass and move in small spaces like a training ground exercise. Barnsley and Darrell Clarke might reflect on tonight and feel they should have been more conservative.
Shouts from a United penalty as Casemiro takes a tumble in the box, but he did now quite get his body across the defender. United just need to tick off these final 20 minutes without any injury problems.
After Anthony slipped Mazraoui in on the overlap, Garnacho missed a glaring opportunity to complete the hat-trick. Leaning back, over the bar, when it looked easier to score from eight yards out. You would think Ten Hag will look to get Garnacho into his team for the trip to Crystal Palace.
Barnsley with a rare forward forward and they start to win some second balls, but Phillips’ cross from the right is aimless and floats over the heads of his team-mates.
Ten Hag has made those changes: Fernandes, Zirkzee and Mazraoui are on for Ugarte, Rashford and Dalot. I doubt the sight of those three subs will cheer Barnsley’s baleaguered players.
Now Garnacho tries to tee up Rashford with an outside of the foot pass, but the goalkeeper claimed. Ten Hag is preparing a host of changes, but the team is not going to get much weaker: Fernandes, Zirkzee and Mazraoui are stripped and ready.
A terrible giveaway in the middle of their own defensive third from Barnsley, Garnacho slipped a ball through to Rashford and his first-time finish with his left foot was slick. Another step in the right direction.
Barnsley’s travelling fans letting the linesman know that they think they should have had a throw-in. United go back on the attack and look for a ball over the top to Antony.
This really could be any score United want it to be now. Connell is penalised for pulling down Antony. The Barnsley players will start to feel their legs burning in this second half.
Barnsley found themselves wide open and susceptible to the counter-attack, and Eriksen sent Garnacho racing clear. Sometimes those finishes where a forward has so much time to think can be difficult, but Garnacho kept his poise and just passed the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Man Utd’s forwards will be looking to fill their boots in this second 45 minutes.
Matthew Craig, a loanee from Spurs, is on as well as Stephen Humphrys up top.
It has not registered too highly for entertainment value, but so far, so good for Ten Hag. Each member of his front three – Garnacho, Rashford and Antony – has a goal, and the tie is over after 45 minutes. Now to avoid any second-half injuries.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Garnacho has his goal. Rashford involved in the build up, driving inside from the left. It looked like Rashford would be the player to shoot but after some pinball in the box the ball ran loose for Garnacho to poke into the bottom corner.
Classy from Eriksen to receive and move the ball on through midfield but Rashford’s next pass was poor. When the pace of the game slows, Eriksen’s technical quality is evident.
Then Ugarte stays down after Connell stamped down on to the top of his foot. The two players were involved in a 50:50 a few seconds earlier which drew blood from Ugarte’s knee. The midfielder will have to go off for treatment, United down to 10 for the time being.
That’s game over you would think. Casemiro sees a snap shot from the edge of the box saved. Ten Hag will already be thinking about changes and whose legs need rest before a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
A stuttering run-up, the goalkeeper guessed the right way, but he finds the right-hand corner.
Some boos at Old Trafford when he put the ball down, one assumes from the Barnsley fans. But you can not be absolutely sure in Antony’s case…
“Goodness me he needed that” Antony makes no mistake from the spot! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/KN9gpTyCjG
Słonina, a young goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea, tries to play sweeper ‘keeper but he was never getting to the ball first, and Antony knocked it past him before hitting the deck. Not much contact, but one of those that will always be given.
Dalot one of United’s main attacking outlets again, picking out Garnacho with a pull-back from the right but the winger’s shot was blocked. The game is beginning to get more stretched which really should suit United.
Better form Ugarte to first win the ball and then burst through midfield with the ball, winning a foul. The Old Trafford crowd enjoyed that. United then produce some nice one-touch play around the box, with Dalot passing to Eriksen before bounding into the box, picked out by a Casemiro flick. But the flag went up for a very tight offside.
Still a relatively sleepy atmosphere, and United are not making life easy for themselves because of some elementary mistakes. Antony guilty of giving the ball away before Ugarte clattered into Yoganathan.
Not been an easy start to the game for Toby Collyer at left-back, a youngster who is more used to playing in midfield. He concedes another free-kick in a promising crossing position for Barnsley. Phillips tries flicking the ball up for a shot, with the pass bobbling in front of him, but he scoops well over the bar.
If there was a hint of tension among the United players, it should ease after that opening goal. Now a question of adding more gloss to the scoreline and sharing minutes around.
Rashford backs up his goal at the weekend with another, and shows he can be dangerous from the right. It was a fine switch of play for Garnacho, it was weak defending for Barnsley to allow Rashford a path to goal but his right-footed finish was unerring into the roof of the net.
Marcus Rashford is BACK for Manchester United 🔥 pic.twitter.com/glD8WF9gnZ
Excellent tackle from Barnsley winger O’Keefe, tracking back to hook the ball away from Antony. Then Maguire passes the ball straight out play. 85 per cent possession for United so far but very little of it has been crisp or purposeful. Ugarte has been quiet so far.
From the corner, Cotter tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper but he could only slap the ball back towards the edge of the box. Rashford sees a couple of efforts blocked. The last few minutes have got the crowd involved, but still not much rhythm in United’s general performance.
Barnsley will have their work cut out whenever Garnacho faces up on that left flank, he is arguably United’s most dangerous forward. Better from Rashford on the right of the penalty area to shift and shoot, his effort takes two deflections and behind for a corner.
United with their first sustained spell of possession in the Barnsley half after Antony made an interception in midfield. I do not think Erik ten Hag will be best pleased with what has seen so far despite making eight changes to team. Casemiro win another mis-timed sliding tackle in midfield, concedes a foul.
Casemiro goes in for a 50:50 but caught his man on the shin and concedes a foul. Barnsley once again test Collyer, and the youngster was a bit rash up against Cotter. Free-kick in a dangerous crossing position wide right, that glances off a United head and across goal. Really lively start from the League One side.
Barnsley go on the attack down their right from kick off, looking to rest Collyer at left-back. Then Antony misplaces a pass forward, eliciting not so much a groan but a weary sigh from the home fans. Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke was a United fan growing up, and is up on the touchline from the early stages.
After a rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads, Barnsley get the game started at Old Trafford. Playing in all white. Some empty seats dotted around the stadium.
Jonny Evans is another experienced player who starts tonight and he is looking forward to the prospect of another Cup run in his long and storied career.
“I’m looking forward to starting tonight and getting some minutes, it’s about being ready and contributing when the team needs me,” he said.
“We know they will want to play a lot of long balls and try to catch us out on the counter-attack so we need to be ready for that but hopefully we can keep a clean sheet and get a few goals.
Evans has won this trophy twice before, when United clinched back-to-back League Cups in 2008-09 and 2009-10, and the 36-year-old centre-back has got his sights set on a hat-trick.
“I’ve got fond memories of the League Cup and I’d like to get there (to another Wembley final) again.”
Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke says he is very “proud” to be pitting his side against the club he supported as a boy.
He said the Tykes “will spend most of the game in a mid-block” and hope to catch the hosts out on the counter-attack but admitted his League One side will need things to go their way if they are to pull off a shock.
Your super Reds taking to the Theatre of Dreams this evening! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/K2iaJbskJ0
Barnsley midfielder Adam Phillips, meanwhile, says they have just had a team meeting and the message has been to not to get stagefright at the Theatre of Dreams.”Everyone must give 100 per cent. It’s a big stage, but we can’t have anyone freezing; everyone needs to be on it. Hopefully, we can give it our best shot and come away with a good result. “We’ve got a gameplan, and when the chances come along we’ve got to take them.” 
On Ugarte: “We want to integrate him as soon as possible but it takes time.
“He is getting used to the patterns in training, but now we will see. He has to progress and develop and he needs some time and his team-mates also to get used to each other.
“We need all the players in this squad, we are playing in five leagues, we want to win and we have to find what is the best team, the best chemistry and this is the moment to see who can prove a point.” 
In his pre-match interview Ten Hag has backed Casemiro to bounce back from his nightmare showing against Liverpool.
“We know what he can deliver,” he said. “He is a brilliant player, and we expect this from him.
“In football you have to deal with negativity, all the coaches from Man Utd and the players have to deal with this experience at different times, but if we be together we will come though this experience together.” 
And Ugarte is given his first start for the Red Devils. Ten Hag has opted for quite a strong side, which includes Rashford, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire and the out-of-form Antony.Here’s the United line-up, to which nine changes have been made:
Beginning our 2024/25 #CarabaoCup journey 🔴#MUFC || #CarabaoCup
Erik ten Hag loves a domestic cup and tonight Manchester United begin their involvement in the League Cup with a home tie against League One Barnsley.
United lifted the League Cup in Ten Hag’s first season, before confounding the odds with one of their few convincing performances of last season to beat Manchester City to the FA Cup. Ten Hag has pointed to those trophies as proof United are heading in the right direction, though his protestations have done little to allay concerns about their weaknesses as a league team.
The pressure eased a touch with Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton, when United recovered from a ropey opening period to run out well-deserved winners against porous opponents. Marcus Rashford was on the scoresheet again, enabling Ten Hag to respond to his critics, while young wingers Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho flashed promise and summer signing Joshua Zirkzee showed some neat touches.
Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui were all substituted against Southampton but are available for tonight’s game. It is doubtful Ten Hag will risk them for a contest that looks ripe for heavy rotation. United’s new midfielder Manuel Ugarte could make his full debut as he seeks to acclimatise. United have a tricky trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, scene of one of their lowest moments of last season when they were beaten 4-0.
Ten Hag has called on Antony to fight for his place having struggled for minutes this season. “That is professional football, that is top football, those are the laws,” Ten Hag said. “You pick the team where you think you have the most chance to win a game, so the players have to fight for their positions, and you pick the XI who have the best dynamic and the best chemistry.”
“Now he has to bounce back and he has the abilities to do it. So if he is doing the right thing, he can make competition with them (those who have been playing ahead of him).”
Barnsley have made a decent start to the season in League One, with three wins, two defeats and a draw in their opening six games. The Yorkshire club have not made much of an impression on the domestic cups since 2008, when they slayed Chelsea and Liverpool on their way to the FA Cup semis. After all that, Cardiff City denied them a place in the final.
Team news on the way shortly…