Rooney penalty sends United through

Posted Sunday, January 10, 2016 by foxsportsasia.com

Manchester United’s struggles continued as they sleepwalked to a 1-0 win against League One Sheffield United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round.

Manchester United 1 Sheffield United 0

Devils sneak into fourth round

United need injury time winner

Rooney wins it from spot

Fans voice discontent

Match Summary

The Premier League side have found goals and chances tough to come by this season, with manager Louis van Gaal has being forced to defend his tactics amid accusations of setting
up his side with an overly-cautious mentality.

However, they managed to sneak through courtesy of last-gasp Wayne Rooney penalty after Anthony Martial was felled in the area two minutes into stoppage time.
Full Report

In a largely uneventful contest, neither side could muster a shot on target until after the hour mark, and the home fans cheered ironically when substitute Memphis Depay fired a shot wide in the second half to voice their discontent at the football on offer this season.

Van Gaal named a full-strength side from the start for the tie with Rooney and Martial spearheading the attack, but they never really got going against their resolute visitors.

The opening exchanges were dominated by both sides’ failure to deliver an effective final ball, and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that any real goalmouth action, nd even that didn't end in an attempt on goal.

Matteo Darmian’s through ball was scampered onto by Rooney, and he managed to get there before Blades ‘keeper George Long before being unable to create an angle to score.
It didn’t really get any better from there, either. Depay and Sheffield United’s Chris Basham exchanged weak long-range efforts with very little else to really get excited about until the game entered the final twenty minutes.

As the League One side began to show signs of fatigue, their defending began to get a little more desperate, and only a late Neill Collins intervention prevented Marouane Fellaini from latching onto a chance following a Daley Blind corner.

But the pressure did eventually tell. With two minutes of the additional six allotted for stoppages played, Martial was brought down by a tired Dean Hammond challenge and referee Jonathan Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Rooney calmly converted to put Man Utd in the fourth round, but it won’t be enough to quieten the discontent over the lack of style and swagger now synonymous with the Red Devils.