Man United U-21 Matches 2014/15

[rondwisan]

Lancashire Senior Cup
Tuesday 25 November
Leigh Sports Village

BLACKBURN 0

UNITED RESERVES 5
(W.Keane 15, Herrera 26, Pereira 42, Rothwell 49,80)

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25/11/2014 - ManUtd.com, Adam Marshall
LSC: Blackburn 0 United Reserves 5


Manchester United's Reserves eased past Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Senior Cup quarter-final at Leigh Sports Village with a 5-0 victory.

Jonny Evans, Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj all started in a powerful line-up selected by Warren Joyce and there was never any doubt about the outcome on a chilly night.

Will Keane had already gone close when he opened the floodgates after quarter of an hour as in the in-form striker turned in Saidy Janko's right-wing cross at the near post. There was first-team quality stamped all over the second as Herrera swept in a right-footed shot following an intelligent set-piece by Januzaj.

Januzaj and Herrera both tested Ryan Crump but Tom Thorpe and Anders Lindegaard had chances to impress at the other end due to some dangerous work by Chris Brown and Devarn Green, even if a third strike before the interval emphasised the gulf in class. The home side were undone when Andreas Pereira advanced to the edge of the box and unleashed a firm shot that proved too strong for Crump's right hand.

Ben Pearson was unlucky to see a goalbound shot deflected and Januzaj was often keen to try his luck but substitute Joe Rothwell, on for the injured Josh Harrop, was next on the scoresheet. The midfielder played in Keane and, when the striker was tackled, he rammed the rebound in off the underside of the bar.

Evans was withdrawn on 64 minutes as he pressed his claims for a return against Hull City at the weekend but the pattern of the game remained the same with the probing Reds asking constant questions of the Blackburn defence. The chances kept coming and Pearson mustered another deflected attempt that hit the woodwork as he sought his first goal of the campaign.

It was doubtful Rothwell would be able to finish the game after sustaining a heavy knock but he was soon notching his second of the evening with a truly wonderful team goal. Pearson and Pereira were involved in the slick build-up and, when Pearson backheeled into his midfield pal's path, Rothwell bent home a beauty.

Skipper Tom Thorpe was forced off with a serious-looking injury to leave United down to 10 men for the closing stages but Joyce's men march on to face Wigan Athletic in the semi-finals of the competition.

United: Lindegaard; Janko (Grimshaw 68), Thorpe, J.Evans (Love 64), Vermijl; Januzaj, Pearson, A.Pereira, Herrera, Harrop (Rothwell 29); W.Keane. Subs not used: J.Pereira, Weir.