United Thrash Tranmere To Reach FA Cup Fifth Round

Manchester United eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 6-0 win away at Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on a pitch that left a lot to be desired. 

Much had been made of the pitch coming into the game but United fielded a strong team including Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial.

Tranmere went close in the opening stages as a cross was floated in but Connor Jennings could only fire his effort straight as Sergio Romero. 

In the 10th minute, United opened the scoring in emphatic fashion as Maguire picked up the ball outside of the box and sent a rifling shot, that took a slight deflection, into the top corner leaving the keeper with no chance. 

Just three minutes later it was 2-0 as Diogo Dalot ventured from wing-back to run at the Tranmere defence taking on two defenders and sending a shot into the bottom left from just inside the box. 

On the 16th minute, it was 3-0. Tranmere couldn’t handle the runs of Harry Maguire and were sitting very deep as he played the ball to Jesse Lingard who curled an effort into the right-hand corner of the goal. 

The United fans were in full voice and they directed their anger at the club and its hierarchy as they sang chants about Ed Woodward and the Glazer Family ending with ended with "We're Man Utd, we'll sing what we want".

Tranmere had some good chances afterwards with Morgan Ferrier going close on two occasions. The first chance coming after Maguire misjudged a long ball and Ferrier drove at goal before sending an effort well wide. Then English forward was through again after getting on the end of a long ball but he smashed his effort straight at Romero. 

Just before half time, United killed the tie. In the 41st minute, there was an unlikely goal from Phil Jones as he sent a looping header over the keeper from a corner. Then Martial picked the ball up on the edge of the area and curled a deflected effort into the far corner leaving United 5-0 up at half-time. 

In the second-half Tahith Chong was brought onto the pitch and he instantly made an impact as he won a penalty for the visitors after the keeper brought him down. Mason Greenwood stepped up and slotted the ball home for his tenth of the season. 

That wrapped up the win for United as Chong and Lingard hit the woodwork in the closing stages. They’re into the pot for the fifth round draw.