United Cruise to Carling Cup Victory

By David Hobbs
October 26 2004

A United XI consisting of a blend of youth and experience cruised to a comfortable 3-0 Carling Cup win over Championship side Crewe Alexandra at Gresty road this evening. Goals from Alan Smith, Liam Miller and an own goal from Crewe's Stephen Foster secured the victory.

United Cruise to Carling Cup Victory

A Manchester United XI consisting of a blend of youth and experience cruised to a comfortable 3-0 Carling Cup win over Championship side Crewe Alexandra at Gresty road this evening.

Goals from Alan Smith, Liam Miller and an own goal from Crewe's Stephen Foster secured the victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side and have now booked their place in the 4th round of the trophy.

United fielded a slightly stringer line-up than first anticipated, fielding players such as Alan Smith, Louis Saha, Tim Howard, Wes Brown and John O'Shea from the start. The substitutes bench was vastly inexperienced however. Jon Spector, Sylvain Embanks-Blake, Ricardo, Gerard Pique and Chris Eagles were all handed a re-assuring substitutes role.

The Red Devils took the lead with just 10 minutes into the lead. The goal came courtesy of Darren Fletcher's shot that rattled former United stopper Ben Williams' crossbar. The Scotsman's shot fell the the path of an advancing Louis Saha, who set Alan Smith up to fire home an early boost.

Tim Howard showed no signs of a lack of match practice moments after the deadlock was broken. The American did well to deny Dean Ashton on what would have been a memorable goal.

United adopted a cautious approach to play throughout the first-half, seeming content to defend their single goal.

Crewe started the second period with goals in mind. Steve Jones was unlucky not to beat a commanding Tim Howard early on.

However, it all turned bad for Crewe when Frenchman David Bellion's sharp and precise pass from the wing found Irishman Liam Miller who doubled the lead on the 57th minute. Miller's maiden goal for United can only be described as a clean strike.

Bellion was unlucky not to get a goal himself, however, his shot took too much of  a noticeable deflection off Stephen Foster. Foster's deflection proved too much for Williams to get to. 

With a secure 3-0 lead, Sir Alex Ferguson gave - like usual in the League Cup - some of the future stars of Old Trafford a chance in the senior squad, bringing on Gerard Pique, Chris Eagles and Sylvain Embanks-Blake.

Final Score: Crewe Alexandra 0 - 3 Manchester United
d
United: Howard, Richardson, Brown, O`Shea, Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Fletcher, Kleberson, Bellion, Smith, Saha. Used Subs: Pique, Eagles, Blake.

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     

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