Headers from Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, either side of half-time, ensured a sluggish Manchester United saw off a spirited Brighton & Hove Albion side 2-0 in a dour FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford on Saturday night, with the Red Devils joining Tottenham Hotspur in the last-four despite being under the cosh for large parts of the second-half.
Paul Pogba was dropped, not for the first time this season, by Jose Mourinho as the Portuguese tactician sought a response from his side after a wretched mid-week performance saw them exit the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Sevilla.
Whether it was the flashy Frenchman’s absence, or perhaps that this United team seem incapable of turning on the style, but the Red Devils were laborious in attack, to say the least.
Brighton were defending deep and going for the counter but until Matic swung in a delicious cross for Lukaku to head home late in the first-half, Brighton keeper Tim Krul hadn’t seen much action.
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Lukaku’s header had lifted the atmosphere at a thawed-out Old Trafford, with the hosts heading into the interval with a slender lead but the second-half saw the plucky visitors almost turn the tables on their fancied opponents.
Luke Shaw’s injury woes continued as the English fullback came off at half-time, with Ashley Young replacing his compatriot and United struggled to cope with Brighton’s tempo in the final 45 minutes.
Pascal Gross sent a few shots from distance that had Sergio Romero scrambling to cover while Jurgen Locadia was proving to be a menace on the flank as well.
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However, United’s aerial threat on set-pieces came to their rescue once again as Matic headed past Krul in the 82nd minute to ensure their progression after Young’s free-kick had found him unmarked near the far-post.
While Spurs had been unplayable during their 3-0 win at Swansea City earlier on Saturday, United were functional at best but Mourinho seems to have relieved some of the pressure of his back, for the moment at least, as the Red Devils remain on course to lift one trophy this season.
Sunday’s quarter-finals see Wigan Athletic host Southampton before Chelsea travel to Leicester City to complete the fixtures.