Luton 0-3 Man United: Rashford & Greenwood on target as Bailly puts pressure on Solskjaer

By Conor Laird Published: September 22, 2020 10:49 pmLast Updated: September 22, 2020 10:59 pm

Manchester United booked their spot in the 4th-round of the League Cup this evening, courtesy of a comfortable victory over Luton Town.

Luton 0-3 Man United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men made the trip to Kenilworth Road a short time ago, for their 2nd outing in the space of 3 days.

The Red Devils headed into proceedings in search of a bounce-back result, after falling to a worrying defeat in their season opener versus Crystal Palace at the weekend.

And, when all was said and done this evening, bounce back was exactly what United managed.

The visitors took the lead on the stroke of the interval, on the back of a largely even first-half.

After Brandon Williams was needlessly downed in the Luton box, Juan Mata stepped up to slot away the ensuing spot-kick with minimal fuss.

The hosts, though, to their credit, stuck to their task, and could well have equalised 10 minutes from time, if not for the superb reflexes of Dean Henderson in the United goal.

Premier League quality soon proved telling, however, to ease the away side into the League Cup’s next round.

Shortly after being introduced off the bench to add some much-needed attacking impetus to the Red Devils’ frontline, Marcus Rashford burst clear of Luton’s defence, before slotting home in clinical fashion:

And fellow substitute Mason Greenwood added some gloss to the scoreline just minutes later, picking out the far corner with a typically pinpoint left-footed strike:

Bailly stars

On the back of United’s first win of the new season, there were, in truth, not a whole lot of noteworthy takeaways.

Dean Henderson proved that he is ready to step up when required with a potentially result-saving stop, whilst the Red Devils’ squad, behind their first-choice XI, are majorly lacking in quality.

One aspect of his side’s display this evening which will no doubt have been taken note of by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though, was Eric Bailly’s return to action.

Oft-sidelined Bailly was handed a starting berth alongside Harry Maguire at the heart of United’s backline versus Luton, with the Ivorian having gone on to thoroughly impress.

Whilst his distribution at times left something to be desired, Bailly was superb from a defensive standpoint, stepping up with a number of crucial challenges and interceptions over the course of the 90 minutes.

The 26-year-old’s performance was, more than anything, a reminder of the talents he possesses when fully fit and firing, and comes at a time when Bailly is very much in with a chance of establishing himself as a regular in Manchester United’s back-4.

Victor Lindelof was the subject of heavy criticism over the weekend, after majorly struggling to contain the likes of Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha versus Crystal Palace.

As such, with the Reds’ next outing, a Premier League meeting with the much-improved Brighton, quickly approaching, Bailly has done his part to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he is worthy of a 2nd consecutive starting berth.

Contrasting reports emerge surrounding Man United swoop for Ousmane Dembele Concern for Arsenal as West Ham trio, including David Moyes, test positive for Covid-19

Manchester United betting odds, next game:

Manchester United’s latest videos

Carabao Cup Review 2019/20 | Manchester United

Ahead of our return to Carabao Cup action against Luton Town, we look back…

2020-09-22T11:00:16Z

Preview | Luton Town v Manchester United | Carabao Cup

Manchester United’s Carabao Cup journey begins with a trip to Championship side Luton Town…

2020-09-22T08:00:00Z

Manchester United latest news

Premier League table

# Team MP D P 1 Leicester City FC 2 5 6 2 Everton FC 2 4 6 3 Arsenal FC 2 4 6 4 Liverpool FC 2 3 6 5 Crystal Palace FC 2 3 6 6 Tottenham Hotspur FC 2 2 3 7 Manchester City FC 1 2 3 8 Brighton & Hove Albion FC 2 1 3 9 Aston Villa FC 1 1 3 10 Leeds United 2 0 3 11 Chelsea FC 2 0 3 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 0 3 13 Newcastle United FC 2 -1 3 14 Burnley FC 1 -2 0 15 Manchester United FC 1 -2 0 16 West Ham United FC 2 -3 0 17 Sheffield United FC 2 -3 0 18 Fulham FC 2 -4 0 19 Southampton FC 2 -4 0 20 West Bromwich Albion 2 -6 0 Player Team Goals Son, Heung Min Tottenham Hotspur FC 4 Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Everton FC 4 Zaha, Wilfried Crystal Palace FC 3 Salah, Mohamed Liverpool FC 3 Costa, Helder Leeds United 2 Maupay, Neal Brighton & Hove Albion FC 2 Klich, Mateusz Leeds United 2 Lacazette, Alexandre Arsenal FC 2 Ings, Danny Southampton FC 2 Vardy, Jamie Leicester City FC 2 Mitrovic, Aleksandar Fulham FC 2 Jimenez, Raul Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 Bamford, Patrick Leeds United 2 Mane, Sadio Liverpool FC 2 Kane, Harry Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 Townsend, Andros Crystal Palace FC 1 Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick Arsenal FC 1 Rodriguez, James Everton FC 1 Hendrick, Jeff Newcastle United FC 1 Jorginho Chelsea FC 1 Player Team Red Cards Yellow Cards Fredericks, Ryan West Ham United FC 0 2 Egan, John Sheffield United FC 1 1 Klich, Mateusz Leeds United 0 1 Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick Arsenal FC 0 1 Mitrovic, Aleksandar Fulham FC 0 1 Firmino, Roberto Liverpool FC 0 1 Schlupp, Jeffrey Crystal Palace FC 0 1 Jesus, Gabriel Manchester City FC 0 1 Walker-Peters, Kyle Southampton FC 0 1 Justin, James Michael Leicester City FC 0 1 Lamptey, Tariq Brighton & Hove Albion FC 0 1 Gibbs, Kieran West Bromwich Albion 1 0 Christensen, Andreas Chelsea FC 1 0 Bissouma, Yves Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 0 Bardsley, Phil Burnley FC 0 1 Rodriguez, Jay Burnley FC 0 1 Shelvey, Jonjo Newcastle United FC 0 1 Ward, Joel Crystal Palace FC 0 1 McCarthy, James Crystal Palace FC 0 1 Yarmolenko, Andriy West Ham United FC 0 1 Player Team Assists Kane, Harry Tottenham Hotspur FC 4 Willian Arsenal FC 2 Podence, Daniel Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 Costa, Helder Leeds United 1 Maupay, Neal Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 Townsend, Andros Crystal Palace FC 1 Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick Arsenal FC 1 Rodriguez, James Everton FC 1 Hendrick, Jeff Newcastle United FC 1 Jorginho Chelsea FC 1 Praet, Dennis Leicester City FC 1 Trossard, Leandro Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 Castagne, Timothy Leicester City FC 1 Pereira, Matheus West Bromwich Albion 1 Barnes, Harvey Leicester City FC 1 James, Reece Chelsea FC 1 Digne, Lucas Everton FC 1 Fredericks, Ryan West Ham United FC 1 Sterling, Raheem Manchester City FC 1 Firmino, Roberto Liverpool FC 1