Bristol City vs Manchester United: Five things we learned from the EFL Cup quarter-final upset
Bristol City 2 Manchester United 1: Korey Smith's late winner handed the home side a memorable victory
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Bristol City stunned Manchester United at Ashton Gate to knock out the reigning EFL Cup champions in a night that those that braved the chill and fog will never forget.
The home side made a fast start and went ahead through Joe Bryan's screaming effort but Zlatan Ibrahimovic pegged them back via a free-kick. But Korey Smith's late winner settled the match, slamming the ball under Sergio Romero to seal a famous victory.
Here are five things we learned from the match.
City deserved their stunning result
Bristol City came out of the blocks flying against United, creating a host of chances and bringing a magnificent last-ditch challenge out of Daley Blind. Joe Bryan and Horou Magnusson linked effectively to cause United problems down their right with Italian Matteo Darmian struggling to cope with their aggressive play. Makeshift centre-forward Bobby Reid occupied the United defence with enterprising runs into the channels. Joe Bryan scored a delightful goal to put Bristol City ahead in the second half, exchanging passes with Marlon Pack before firing a rocket into the top corner from the edge of the box. Bristol City can be proud of their attacking efforts against a notoriously stubborn United defence.
Zlatan’s class is permanent
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his first start for United this season, after a long recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, and immediately showed his undoubted class. After United were left frustrated in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice, they found themselves trailing 1-0 from a glorious Joe Bryan strike. United were then awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after good footwork by Paul Pogba, which Ibrahimovic stuck powerfully into the bottom corner to bring United level. A classy moment from the 36 year old.
Mourinho's strong team fall short
Jose Mourinho demonstrated the wealth of top quality players at his disposal against Bristol City, naming a side including Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Martial, despite making 10 changes from the side that beat West Brom 2-1 on Sunday. Mourinho made his cup ambitions clear in naming such a strong side; after suggestions that he would play a weak side ahead of games against Leicester and Burnley. His team selection, however, could not match the desire and energy of a Bristol City team that becomes only the second lower league team to beat four Premier League sides in a League Cup campaign.
City academy bearing fruit
Bristol’s star men Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid both came through the youth ranks at Bristol City and demonstrated that academies can still produce players capable of playing at the top level. In recent years Championship teams have increasingly turned to foreign players and older pros to enhance promotion hopes. Bristol have shown faith in young players, with Reid in particular, who has had numerous loans with lower league teams, before giving them first team opportunities and are now reaping the benefits from young players that have invaluable first team experience.
Front-foot United were picked off
Mourinho’s United, so often associated with defensive solidity, came to Ashton Gate with an unfamiliar emphasis on attacking the Championship side. Moving away from their preferred tactics of sitting back and using the physicality of Lukaku to occupy their opponent’s centre-backs, United tried to take the game to Bristol, with Rashford coming close with a rasping strike from distance. Bristol, in the second half in particular, made use of the space behind United’s full-backs as they sought to get back into the game, and finally got their reward for a diligent performance thanks to a calm finish from Korey Smith.
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