Manchester United benefit from VAR confusion to beat valiant Reading in FA Cup third round

Manchester United 2-0 Reading: The home side won their fifth straight game under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but benefited from yet more VAR confusion in the first-half

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer becomes only the second Manchester United manager to win his first five games in charge, matching the record of one Sir Matt Busby, but this 2-0 FA Cup third round victory over Championship strugglers Reading was the least impressive of the five to date.

Reading registered more shots on goal, more attempts on target and a 60 per cent share of possession. Solskjaer will be ever so slightly concerned by those statistics, even if the onus was on the visitors to attack after Juan Mata’s penalty and Romelu Lukaku’s goal opened a two-goal first-half lead.

This was, in fairness, a much-changed United. Solskjaer introduced nine who had not started at St James’ Park on Wednesday, the most notable being Alexis Sanchez, making his first start in two months. It was the Chilean that brought a shock of excitement into the otherwise dreary opening stages, dipping a 25-yard effort inches over Anssi Jaakkola’s crossbar.

United lacked the fluency they have shown of late, most likely due to the changes, and required a penalty awarded by VAR to make the breakthrough. After Fred’s juggling of the ball into the area, Mata was tripped by Omar Richards and Fred tucked the loose ball past Jaakkola from an offside position.

As his assistant Darren Cann disallowed the goal, referee Stuart Attwell awarded the penalty with a little help from his earpiece. It was not the smoothest use of the new technology this year’s FA Cup will see, but the correct decision was made all the same. Mata stepped up and converted.

Even so, second-bottom of the second-tier Reading were still causing this second-string United too many problems. Danny Loader, their local-born England youth international, wasted their best opportunity of the first-half when he hesitated momentarily after rounding Sergio Romero. The goalkeeper recovered, blocking Loader’s delayed attempt.

Then, in the fourth minute of five added-on at the end of the first half, Lukaku did what Loader could not to put United’s place in the fourth round draw beyond almost all doubt. After being played in behind by Sanchez’s delicate through ball, the Belgian rounded Jaakkola with a neat first touch then converted from an increasingly-acute angle.

Juan Mata celebrates his opener (AFP/Getty)

Two goals ahead, the second half should have been more straightforward than it turned out to be for United. Though ultimately they did not reduce the deficit, Reading had their moments and particularly in half’s stages, when Callum Harriott should have made the remainder of the game much more interesting.

Substitute Sone Aluko’s nimble feet allowed him to find Harriott in space, dead centre of goal, practically standing on the penalty spot. The 24-year-old was one of Reading’s better performers, but at this key moment his attempt was a touch rushed and Romero turned it away with his legs.

Romelu Lukaku made sure of the win (Man Utd via Getty)

United needed fresh impetus. Solskjaer looked to his substitutes’ bench and picked out Chong, who was welcomed by Old Trafford’s boisterous singing section with: ‘We’ve only got one Chong’. Sanchez, meanwhile, was removed with what appeared to be a slight injury complaint. He then mistakenly took Solskjaer’s seat in the dugout and was promptly moved by his manager.

The changes did not rally United though, while Reading’s persistent attempts to find at least some consolation continued to be let down by lack of quality in the final third. A side in better form, one not burdened by the threat of relegation in the league, may have provided more resistance. For Solskjaer, there was not the thrill of the last four wins, but a win all the same.