MANCHESTER UNITED 1, SHEFFIELD UNITED 0.
Wayne Rooney came to Manchester United’s rescue and spared their blushes with an injury-time winner against League One side Sheffield United in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It took a 93rd minute penalty from the Reds’ captain to finally see of a spirited Blades’ side and ease the pressure that had looked to increase once more on manager Louis van Gaal.
But Rooney’s goal – his ninth in 10 FA Cup ties – failed to appease the fans after another woeful performance as a section vented their anger at the end of a game that was a terrible spectacle.
Despite enjoying 71-per-cent of possession, their first on-target chance came after 69 minutes, one of only three in the game.
And at the end Reds’ legend Paul Scholes was scathing in his appraisal of the performance in his role as a television pundit.
Scholes described it as “90 minutes of boring football” and a case of square pegs in round holes as the Reds toiled against opponents from the third tier of English football.
And it heightened pressure on van Gaal in the wake of criticism from Herbert Hainer, chief executive of sponsors adidas, who earlier in the week waded into the debate about their style of play. And Hainer’s words must have cause unease in the hierarchy as the sportswear firm’s deal is worth £750million over 10 years.
Van Gaal did not agree with the question that his side got out of jail saying: “I don’t think so. It is always difficult to play against such opponents.
“They defended with 10, 11 behind the ball. You have to play quicker than we did in the first half.
“In the second it was a little bit better and we created a bit more. It is easier to defend than attack.
“It was a deserved penalty and we win the match, the most important thing. I said to the boys the most important thing in we are in the next round, but we have to play quicker with the ball.”
There was no weakened team from United, unlike many other Premier League teams as van Gaal clearly views this as their most realistic chance of silverware.
United made three changes from the side that beat Swansea City last Saturday as Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Morgan Schneiderlin were replaced by Matteo Darmian, Marouane Fellaini and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson who was making his first home start.
The Blades, Capital One Cup semi-finalists last season, and who reached the last four of the FA Cup the year before, began brightly and were clearly not intimidated by the occasion as they were back by a 8,500 following.
Indeed, it took United until the 19th minute to create their first chance of the game when Rooney blazed over from 30 yards as they once again were clueless in the last third of the pitch.
Blades’ keeper George Long also had to sprint from his line to save bravely at the feet of Rooney as they briefly threatened.
In stoppage time, Juan Mata cut back a free kick for Daley Blind to fired well over.
But it was miserable viewing as van Gaal’s team toiled against League One opponents and failed to register a goal attempt on target in the opening half, despite enjoying 70-per-cent possession.
Indeed this was the 17th time in 31 games this season that the Reds have failed to find the net this season in the opening half of a game.
It was more of the same in the second half and that prompted van Gaal to make a double change on the hour.
Mata and Ander Herrera were replaced by Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard in a move intended to give them more attacking ideas.
Memphis let fly from the edge of the box not long after his introduction. The ball flew narrowly wide and there huge and ironic cheers from the home fans.
Indeed, it was Sheffield who had the first on target goal attempt in the game in the 67th minute when Chris Basham’s 25-yard drive flew straight to keeper David De Gea.
The Reds finally tested Long two minutes later, but Darmian’s low shot was easily saved by the keeper.
United made their last change with 12 minutes left when Andreas Pereira took over from the ineffective Fellaini.
They had a great chance to break the deadlock after 87 minutes when the Blades failed to clear Rooney’s free kick and a goalbound shot from Anthony Martial was blocked by John Brayford who flung himself at the goal attempt.
Depay, certainly livened up the game and in the last minute he cut in from the left and saw a 22-yard shot flash just wide of the upright.
But in the second of six minutes of added time came the breakthrough and it was Memphis who won the decisive spot kick.
Dean Hammond needlessly slid in on the edge of the box. He made minimal contact with the shin of the substitute whose theatrical tumble convinced referee Jon Moss to point to the spot.
Rooney stepped up and confidently sent keeper Long the wrong way as there was a collective sign of relief around Old Trafford.