MAN UNITED 7, BARNSLEY 0
Manchester United recorded their biggest-ever Carabao Cup victory to give Erik ten Hag his largest win as Reds’ manager.
It was a night to savour as United put League One side Barnsley to the sword as they played with a swagger to notch their highest total since a 9-0 success against Southampton in February 2021.
After a difficult start to the season, it has suddenly come together for ten Hag’s side which has hit 10 goals in three days in the wins against Southampton and the Tykes.
They played with pace and purpose to rip apart Barnsley who also lost 7-0 at Old Trafford in a Premier League fixture in 1997.
There were two goals apiece for Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen along with an Antony penalty.
Garnacho also provided two assists and so far this season has four goals and three assists while Rashford has scored three goals since Saturday as well as providing an assist as did Eriksen while substitute Bruno Fernandes assisted two goals.
No wonder ten Hag was a contented man, declaring: “For not only me but the team it was a perfect night.
“We did everything we planned to do – we won, are through to the next round and scored great goals.”
Ten Hag added he will not be swept away by the euphoria of this victory.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe said: “I was not devastated after Liverpool [3-0 home defeat] and am not now celebrating.
“We are on a journey, and we will see where we are in May. Every time we have to progress the team.”
Ten Hag has made eight changes to his side for their Carabao Cup game against Barnsley, but still fielded a strong line-up.
With Andre Onana absent from the matchday squad, Altay Bayindir made his first appearance at Old Trafford.
Midfielder Manuel Ugarte was handed his first start after his summer arrival from Paris St-Germain and there was also a full debut for Toby Collyer.
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans were paired together at centre back while Antony was handed his first start of the season and Casemiro was named captain.
After a cagey opening, Rashford had the first chance when he jinked his way clear in the penalty area before seeing his goalbound shot strike Marc Roberts in the face.
Rashford was not to be denied in the 16th minute as he broke the deadlock.
Running on to Garnacho’s diagonal ball, Rashford cut inside past Roberts before firing high into the net, his second goal of the season with both netted in the last three days.
The Reds doubled their advantage in the 35th minute through a penalty from Antony.
The Brazilian was brought down by American international keeper Gabriel Slonina, who is on loan from Chelsea, after being put through on goal by Rashford.
United added a third in the second of two minutes of stoppage time when Garnacho found the net.
Rashford was the creator cutting in from the left and the ball ricocheted off Roberts to the Argentine who netted from eight yards.
It was a case of desperate measures for the Tykes as manager Darrell Clarke made three changes at the break.
They failed to arrest the slide as Garnacho struck again four minutes after the restart.
Eriksen released Garnacho who sprinted clear from his own half before slotting a shot low past Slonina.
United were playing with freedom and fun as Rashford forced a decent save from Slonina with a free kick from 25 yards.
And it got even better when Rashford struck United’s fifth in the 58th minute with Garnacho providing the pass to release him.
United made a triple change in the 63rd minute as Ugarte, Rashford and Diogo Dalot made way for Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoul.
There was almost a sixth soon after when Antony cut in from the right before forcing Slonina to turn over his shot while Garnacho blazed over when he ought to have completed his hat-trick.
Ten Hag made a fourth change with 12 minutes left as Evans was replaced by Matthijs de Ligt.
United hit a sixth with nine minutes left as Garnacho released Fernandes on the left and he cross for the Dane to fire home with a near-post shot from six yards, his first goal for the Reds since August 2023.
Garnacho came off with seven minutes left to be replaced by Amad.
Eriksen, having ended his goal drought, made it two in four minutes as he swept home a sideways Fernandes pass from the edge of the box.