'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United youngster Andreas Pereira announced himself to the Stretford End as the Red Devils kicked off their League Cup campaign with a 3-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town at Old Trafford. As per tradition, United’s confidence in youth in the competition prevailed and Pereira produced a fantastic all-round performance to strengthen his claim for a spot in manager Louis van Gaal’s first team plans.
Goals from Wayne Rooney, Pereira and Anthony Martial gave United the 3-0 win and move to the next round. Here are the player ratings from the game.
Manchester United
David de Gea – 6
The Spaniard did not have much to do in the game besides saving Tommy Oar’s speculative effort in the first half. He was troubled with a couple of crosses into the box, but Ipswich failed to capitalise. United dominated possession as the game progressed meaning De Gea had even less to do in the second half.
Antonio Valencia – 6.5
Perhaps one of his better performances for recent months, Antonio Valencia made good runs up and down the right flank offering support both in attack and defence. The Ecuadorian’s fiercely drilled effort in the second half forced Bialkowski to make a scrambling save.
Chris Smalling – 6
Manchester United’s most consistent player this season continued his fine vein of form with a composed and calculated display at the back. Aside from the customary clearances and headers, the England international was seldom troubled in the game.
Daley Blind – 7
Daley Blind is gradually starting to personify the role of a ball playing centre-back. The Dutch international’s exquisite pass in the 23rd minute opened the scoring for United. Blind produced another similar perfectly-weighted delivery into the box a few minutes later, but Ander Herrera failed to control the ball.
Ashley Young – 6
Starting at the left back position in the absence of the Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young did well to counter the threat of the physically imposing Ipswich forward David McGoldrick.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – 7
Schwinsteiger’s calmness on the ball was one of the major reasons why United dominated possession throughout the game. The German national team captain pulled off yet another commanding display at the heart of United’s midfield providing ample cover for the defence and spraying passes all over the pitch,
Ander Herrera – 6
Energetic and enthusiastic as usual, Ander Herrera played a much advance role with Schweinsteiger covering his tail. The former Bilbao man moved further up the pitch after Marouane Fellaini dropped back and exchanged a few decent passes with fellow attacking midfielders Pereira and Juan Mata.
Andreas Pereira – 7
Made his first competitive start for United and repaid his manager’s faith with a sublime free-kick in the 60th minute in front of the Stretford End faithful. Pereira did not lack spark and tested Bialkowski in the early parts of the game. He was confident in possession, twisting and turning with the ball and the Brazil youth international proved why he is so highly rated at Old Trafford.
Marouane Fellaini – 5
The Belgian international produced a pedestrian like display playing behind Wayne Rooney. His first touch was too heavy which resulted in giving away possession on more than one occasion. He did better after dropping back to midfield in the latter parts of the second half.
Juan Mata – 6.5
Mata made United tick in the final third with neat passes. He came close to scoring in the first half but his weak half-volley was collected comfortably by Bialkowski. He did not do much wrong but was substituted in the 70th minute to make way for Anthony Martial.
Wayne Rooney – 6.5
The England captain collected Blind’s long ball in sublime fashion to give United the lead in the 23rd minute. Rooney looked quite the fit in the no.9 role and was substituted in the 80th minute for Memphis Depay.
Substitutes
Phil Jones – 6
Came on for Chris Smalling in the 70th minute and continued where Smalling had left with a calm and collected display in the last 20 minutes.
Anthony Martial – 6.5
Martial quickly establishing himself as a Stretford End favourite. A neat finish in injury time tripled United’s lead, taking his personal tally to four goals in four appearances for the club.
Memphis Depay – 5
Came on late to replace Wayne Rooney and played a part in Martial’s goal.
Ipswich Town
Bartosz Bialkowski – 5
The Pole was beaten three times on the night, marking a horrid time at the office. He did well to keep out Pereira in the opening parts of the game and saving Valencia’s drilled effort in the second half but was rooted to the spot as Pereira put his free-kick past him.
Josh Emmanuel – 6
The Ipswich youngster did fairly well to keep a lively Pereira in check. He did little to offer in the attack after being restrained at the back marking the threat from United’s left flank.
Josh Yorweth – 6
20-year-old Yorweth did a decent job countering the aerial threat of Marouane Fellaini. He will rue his chance at the opposite end in the first half as he failed to make enough contact with the ball from a right-wing cross.
Piotr Malarczyk – 5.5
The 24-year-old summer recruit slipped on the pitch paving the way for Wayne Rooney to give United the lead in the 23rd minute. He was pushed back for the large parts of the game as United kept on knocking at the doors.
Jonathan Parr – 6
The Norwegian did well to keep Juan Mata from making any significant impact on the game. But he was lucky not to see a card for his challenge on Pereira late in the game.
Tommy Oar – 5.5
One of Ipswich’s livelier players up front, he made a great burst in the opening parts of the game to let McGoldricks though on goal. The Australian’s decent first half effort went narrowly wide of the far post.
Kevin Bru – 5
Handed the task of battling possession of the ball in midfield, the Mauritian seldom got hold of it as a commanding Bastian Schweinsteiger ran the show for United throughout the game. He spent most of the game chasing after the ball.
Giles Coke – 5.5
Coke was the subject of a major hand ball call in the first half but the referee decided against it. He improved his game as the match progressed and delivered a good cross into the box from the left flank which almost set up McGoldrick for the equaliser.
Jay Tabb – 6
Tabb intercepted Fellaini’s substandard pass to set up a swift counter attack in the first half. The former Reading midfielder was replaced by Larsen Toure in the 75th minute.
David McGoldrick – 6
He asked some questions with his pace and physique in the early parts of the game, testing United’s back line and he also foxed Daley Blind to deliver a dangerous cross into the box. He was eventually replaced by Freddie Sears in the 61st minute.
Daryl Murphy – 5.5
Murphy led the line for Ipswich but could have done much better. He failed to gamble on McGoldrick’s low cross and was replaced by Brett Pitman in the 61st minute.
Substitutes
Freddie Sears – 5
Sears came on for McGoldrick in the 61st minute but failed to affect the course of the game.
Brett Pitman – N/A
Larsen Toure - N/A
