Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night in another embarrassing night for the Red Devils, as they were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag had sent out a rallying cry to his players ahead the fourth-round tie, instructing them to put Sunday’s Manchester derby behind them and to ‘look forward’. Yet those calls clearly fell on deaf ears in what was another insipid and spineless showing.
Newcastle made eight changes from Saturday’s draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with five full-backs starting and no goalkeeper. Yet, it was the Magpies who took the lead after 29 minutes when Tino Livramento tackled Alejandro Garnacho in his own half, ran by Hannibal and Mason Mount, before squeezing the ball to Miguel Almiron. Diogo Dalot failed to track the run from the winger, who took a touch and then passed the ball past Andre Onana.
Eight minutes later and it was 2-0, with another full-back doing the damage. This time, Lewis Hall volleyed into the far corner after a weak Harry Maguire clearance.
United’s response was as abject as Sunday, although Diogo Dalot shot wide and Mason Mount’s effort was held just before the break. The midfielder had spurned two earlier chances to score, one of which he failed to properly connect with from just a few yards out.
Ten Hag made two changes at half-time and three in the second period, but they had little impact. Sofyan Amrabat curled an effort wide on 54 minutes, before Antony fired over.
Any hope of a comeback - created by a relatively positive start to the half - evaporated just after the hour mark as Joe Willock drove through the middle of the hosts' midfield and placed the ball into the bottom corner.
The away fans were delirious, the home supporters simply horrified. Most of the latter had left by the end of a night that somehow felt even more dismal than Sunday’s derby loss. United didn’t even manage a shot on target in the second half, with Newcastle the side more likely to net in the latter stages.
Here's how we rated the United players...
1. Andre Onana- 5
Couldn't have done much about all three goals.
2. Diogo Dalot- 2 (off 46)
Was at fault for the first goal as he failed to track Almiron's run. The defender had a tough night and was replaced at the break.
3. Harry Maguire- 4
Tried to create attacks with his long passes, but few threatened the Newcastle defence. Maguire didn't cover himself in glory for the second and third Newcastle goals.
4. Victor Lindelof- 4
Sloppy in possession but wasn't at fault for any of the three goals.