MAN UNITED 2, HULL CITY 0
Goals from Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, two of David Moyes’ signings for Manchester United, took Jose Mourinho to within touching distance of another Wembley appearance.
United take a 2-0 lead to Hull City later this month for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi final knowing it will take a calamitous result at the KC Stadium for them not to make it to Wembley.
Hull may be bottom of the Premier League, but they certainly didn’t roll over at Old Trafford as many believed would happen, though United made it nine straight wins and extend their unbeaten run to 14 games.
New Portuguese manager Marco Silva, in only his second game in charge of the Tigers, had his side well organised as they frustrated United for lengthy periods of the game.
And it was until three minutes from time that Fellaini sealed victory and gave United a more comfortable cushion for the return.
United manager Mourinho was not happy saying: “The second goal was important, but it is not enough to say we are at Wembley, though it gives us a little bit of space.
“Yes we were complacent and may be I did not do my job well to prepare my players for the game.
“May be I should have paid more attention to the dynamics to prepare for the game in which we played too slowly and made things complicated by wanting one more touch and extra second to make decisions, though we also missed important chances.
“The players have to improve, I have to improve and the fans have to improve for a big match on Sunday.
“Our performance was good enough to win tonight, but for Sunday we all have to improve
United made seven changes from the side that beat Middlesbrough in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
Captain Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford were the four players to keep their places.
Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and David De Gea were among the big hitters to return in their much changed line up.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, however, was an absentee through illness after Mourinho states on Saturday he would play.
It was a measure of Hull’s injury troubles and lack of players that they were only able to field six of the seven permitted substitutes.
United were unlucky not to take a second-minute lead when Mata’s shot from the edge of the box forced a fine flying save from keeper Eldin Jakupovic.
Hull’s injury problems became even more acute when they lost Markus Henriksen with what appeared a collarbone injury following an awkward fall following a shoulder charge by Pogba.
While still down to 10 man, Hull were lucky not to fall behind when Mkhitaryan shot narrowly wide from Mata’s cut back.
And Mkhitaryan shot over when well placed after again being set up by Mata as United were unable to find a route to goal.
Pogba was next to try his luck with a drive from 35 yard that was tipped over the bar by Jakupovic and Rashford then had a shot that flew inches over the bar.
Hull, who last won at Old Trafford 65 years ago, almost stole ahead in the 31st minute against the run of play when Adama Diomande headed against the upright with De Gea beaten all hands down.
And they remained a threat on the counter when substitute Abel Hernandez forced a decent diving save from De Gea.
Mourinho had clearly had enough as he headed for the tunnel at the start of four minutes of added time due to the injury to Henriksen.
United had more urgency about their play from the restart as Mkhitaryan and Rooney, with a great chance to score a club record 250th goal for the Reds, both went close before Mata broke the deadlock in the 56th minute.
Antonio Valencia crossed from the right, Mkhitaryan headed towards goal and Mata eluded being offside as he ghosted through to volley home from a couple of yards.
Rooney made way for Anthony Martial just short of the hour as United looked for more of a goal threat.
That was followed by Jesse Lingard replacing Mkhitaryan with 20 minutes left.
United came within a whisker of a second goal after Sam Clucas fouled Pogba just outside the box. Pogba curled a delightful free kick over the defensive wall only to see it hit the inside of the upright and bounce to safety.
Marouane Fellaini came on for goalscorer Mata with 11 minutes left as United went for a more direct route to the big Belgium.
Ad that tactic worked to perfection as Fellaini headed home a Matteo Darmian cross for United’s second goal that looped over Jakupovic and eluded Tom Huddlestone who made a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to clear off the line.
It was Fellaini’s first goal of the season and first since he found the net in the final of the FA Cup in May.
Martial might have added a third goal at the death, but Jakupovic punched his goalbound effort to safety.