Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford ended their goal droughts in style to give Manchester United a 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their final UEFA Champions League Group A game to ensure top spot.

As promised, United manager Jose Mourinho named a heavily-changed lineup for Tuesday’s tie with one eye on Sunday’s Manchester Derby.

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Nemanja Matic, David de Gea were some of the big names missing from the starting XI but United fans were pleased to see Luke Shaw make his first start of the season against the Russian side, who came to Old Trafford seeking a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Rashford would have the first clear chance of the match as United started on the front-foot with strike-partner Lukaku slipping him in for a one-on-one but he didn’t get the cleanest of connections and his shot hit the post to let the visitors off the hook.

Paul Pogba, who had starred in United’s 3-1 win over Arsenal on the weekend before getting sent off for a rash challenge, was running the show once again and his through-balls to the galloping Shaw were creating havoc on the wings.

The fullback, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle United in recent weeks after seeing his first-team acton curtailed, sent in some sizzling crosses which just about eluded his teammates.

The 22-year-old would come close to opening the scoring after volleying Antonio Valencia’s cross at goal but Igor Akinfeev made an important save from the initial effort and then from Lukaku on the rebound to keep the Russian’s clean-sheet intact.

Valencia would then go down from a challenge after making a surging run into the box but referee Gianluca Rocchi wasn’t impressed and the Russian’s breathed a sigh of relief.

As half-time neared, CSKA began to see a bit more of the ball and would make their spell count with a contentious opener. Mario Fernandes made a run to the byline and cut it back for Vitinho to stab home in the 45th minute but the had ball hit Alan Dzagoev, who was seemingly in an offside position, on the back before trickling into Sergio Romero’s goal. However, replays suggested United defender Daley Blind had played him onside and the the decision of the referees was vindicated.

Despite vociferous protests from the home side, the goal stood and United went into the dressing rooms trailing but with Basel winning 1-0 at Benfica in the other Group A game, still were in position to qualify.

United began the second period as they started the first, pushing CSKA further and further back into their own half and looked threatening every time the likes of Lukaku and Rashford had the ball.

And it would be the duo who would end the Russian side’s stubborn resistance with a two-goal burst in a span of two minutes.

Pobga floated in an inviting ball into the box and Lukaku shrugged off his marker to score a fine volley effort in the 64th minute and Rashford would complete United’s comeback after he fired one in after Juan Mata set him up two minutes later.

Mourinho responded to seeing his side take the lead by hauling off Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia with the visit of Manchester City looming large and the Red Devils were largely untroubled in the final stages of the game to see out their fifth continental win of the season.

After Basel beat bottom-ranked Benfica 2-0 in the other Group A game, the Swiss outfit came in second place with a tally of nine points from six games, three points behind group-winners United.