MAN UNITED 2, READING 0
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made it five straight wins as Manchester United’s interim manager following a far from straightforward victory at home to Reading in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
As Solskjaer equalled Sir Matt Busby’s record for a best-ever start as manager, the Championship strugglers provided robust opposition.
And had the Royals possessed a cutting edge, it could well have been a different story to the penalty from Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku strike that secured victory.
It was clear to see why the players in Reading’s starting line-up had mustered only six goals between them, the reason why their season has been so disappointing.
The stats proved just how well Reading did – they had 60 per cent possession and had 13 goals attempts to United’s eight.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Solskjaer admitted it was a “flattering” margin of victory.
He said: “It was always going to be difficult, especially with my team selection. I made it hard for them as this team had never played together before.
“We weren’t cohesive and Reading played well, but we did enough. The pleasing thing is we are through and kept a clean sheet, but 2-0 flattered us, though we could have had third or four at the end.
“Individual quality got us through, but it is not easy when you make nine changes.”
Solskjaer praised Tahith Chong after giving the 19-year-old Dutchman his debut.
He said: “He had two or three really good moments, but when you are young you are not going to run the game.
“He had 30 minutes and got the crowd going and have one or two glimpses of things to come.
“He came on when it was 2-0 and the game was not won. It was not 4-0 and a party.”
Looking ahead, Solskjaer added the game against Tottenham at Wembley tomorrow week will be his “first proper test”.
“It will give me more of a reference on where we are against the big boys,” he explained.
Reading manager Jose Gomes was proud of his team’s performance saying they played with “courage” but they lacked a “killer instinct”.
United made nine changes from the side that won at Newcastle United in midweek, the fourth straight win of Solskjaer’s reign as interim manager.
Phil Jones and Juan Mata were the only two survivors in what was a new-look side that had Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez up front.
Young players Andreas Pereira, Diogo Dalot and Scott McTominay won recalls while James Garner and Chong were on the bench that also included Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as insurance if needed.
There was no Paul Pogba, however, after the midfielder was injured in the midweek win at St James’ Park.
Reading, second bottom of the Championship, made four changes from the side thrashed at home by Swansea in their last outing.
One of those who lost out was former Reds’ player John O’Shea who had to settle for a place on the bench.
After a quiet and uneventful opening, United cleared their first chance in the 16th minute when Fred and McTominay linked well to set up Sanchez whose shot from the edge of the box narrowly cleared the crossbar.
The match had VAR in operation and it was referred to after 20 minutes when United won a penalty after a challenge by Omar Richards on Mata as he burst through on goal.
The ball ran free to Fred who netted, but replays suggested he was offside.
In a bid to untangle the events, referee Stuart Attwell referred the matter to VAR and after a two-minute break a penalty was awarded that Mata scored, sending keeper Anssi Jaakkola the wrong way.
United almost added a second goal when Fred’s superb through ball released Lukaku who shot was well kept out by Jaakkola.
Reading had three chances to equalise after slack defensive play from the Reds, but Danny Loader and Callum Harriott both fired wide while Andy Yiadom’s shot was beaten away by keeper Sergio Romero.
United doubled their advantage in the fourth of five added minutes through Lukaku.
The striker was put through by Sanchez and coolly rounded keeper Jaakkola before slotting home.
Reading ought to have halved the deficit when Harriott escaped Ashley Young, but his shot was well saved by Romero as United again lived dangerously at the back.
United made two changes on the hour as he brought on Chong and Marouane Fellaini for Mata and Fred.
Dutch teenager Chong, a 19-year-old midfield player, was making his debut for the Reds.
That was quickly followed by an injury-enforced third change as Sanchez, who was again feeling his hamstring, was replaced by Rashford.
Fellaini had a chance to add a third goal after a mazy run along the by-line by Young, but Jaakkola made a save on the goalline.
Romero had to be alert to turn a shot by substitute Sone Aluko round the post for a corner after Young had carelessly given away possession.
United came close to a third goal in stoppage time when Pereira’s drive from outside the box was well turned round the post by Jakkola.