There was to be no fairy-tale return for Wayne Rooney; as his former team Manchester United ultimately came out comprehensive 3-0 winners in the FA Cup 5th Round tie at Pride Park. Derby County actually made a good start; perhaps surprising their more illustrious visitors with an attacking verve in the early stages; with Louie Sibley and Rooney himself going close in the opening exchanges.
United did find their marker however; and left-back Luke Shaw; enjoying a resurgence of form in recent days; opened the scoring in the latter stages of the first half with a rather-fortuitous shot that bounced and looped over the hapless Derby 'keeper Kelle Roos. United could be seen surging in confidence; and on the stroke of half-time; their Nigerian star Odion Ighalo latched on to a fine interior pass from Shaw; before holding off a posse of Derby defenders and steering his shot in.
Derby were pretty demoralised at his point; and although they made a good fist of it early in the second half; they couldn't quite find a way back into the contest. It was that man Ighalo again who scored United's third; latching on a to fine cut-back from Juan Mata before seeing his second attempt into the roof of the net to end any further arguments.
Rooney had a good game overalll; probing and harrying his way in the heart of the Derby midfield. He had several patented long diagonal balls to right-back Jayden Bogle; showed imagination in the Derby midfield; and had two brilliant free-kicks turned away by Argentina No. 1 goalkeeper Sergio Romero; who is surely the best reserve goalkeeper in the world; with the second save particularly world-class.
United continue their recent surge in form; and riding on the improved form in this game of captain Mata; midfield man Fred and left-back Shaw; they now approach the coming Manchester Derby with confidence.
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