Manchester United leave it late to see off Derby County

Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku scored late goals as Manchester United defeated Derby County in the FA Cup third round.

A fine performance from Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson looked to have been enough to force a replay but Lingard opened the scoring with six minutes to spare before Lukaku added a second.

United pushed for an early goal and it nearly came in the fourth minute when Paul Pogba found Lingard inside the area, but the in-form midfielder’s strike went over the bar.

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Ander Herrera then failed to threaten from a free-kick before Pogba sent the ball wide of the target.

Juan Mata came close to opening the scoring after 22 minutes but his free-kick was wonderfully turned around the post by Scott Carson.

Sam Winnall then created an opening for Andreas Weimann at the other end but the Austrian’s shot went narrowly wide.

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Marcus Rashford should have scored before half time when he was found by Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s cross but the striker’s header hit the post from four yards.

Carson was called into action again in first-half stoppage time to keep out a looping Pogba free-kick.

Derby started the second half strongly and Tom Huddlestone saw his effort deflect wide from a corner.

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Mata, Pogba and half-time substitute Romelu Lukaku all had more chances, and Lukaku should have found the back of the net when his header went wide from five yards.

Derby were creating chances themselves, and Sergio Romero had to stay alert to keep out Tom Lawrence’s long-ranger.

Rashford hit the post for the second time of the evening in the 72nd minute. He was found in the area by Lingard but the striker’s powerful strike from a tight angle bounced off the woodwork.

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It was Lingard who finally made the breakthrough in the 84th minute when he beat Carson with a shot into the top right corner from the edge of the area.

Lukaku put the icing on the cake in stoppage time when he was played in by Anthony Martial to score one-on-one.

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Cover Photo: Old Trafford, Manchester by Sean MacEntee used under license by CC BY 2.0.

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