Old Trafford left stunned as York teach United a lesson

Coca-Cola Cup

Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat against Second Division strugglers York City in the first leg of their second round Coca- Cola Cup tie last night.

York, who collected their first League win of the season at Swansea on Saturday, won with two goals from Paul Barnes and one from defender Tony Barras.

United's manager, Alex Ferguson, as he did last season, fielded a less than full strength side but he will not do that in the return in in 12 days' time, when, he said, "The big guns will be out in the second leg."

He was full of praise for York. "You can't take anything away from them. They fought for possession and played good enterprising football. Just a year ago it was a big game for our young players when they came into the side to face Port Vale but it wasn't a big game for them tonight and they have been given a lesson about football.

"Ten years at this club and I am still talking about appetite in games like this. I thought York had the appetite and the scent for the battle but we didn't and I have no excuses."

Both sides finished with 10 men following the dismissals of United's debutant, Pat McGibbon, and York's Paul Baker.

York could have been two up in the opening minutes as United's defence looked shaky, but had to wait until the 24th minute to take the lead. Barnes's firmly struck shot took a deflection and squirmed through the grasp of United's reserve goalkeeper, Kevin Pilkington. Five minutes into the second half Mc Gibbon was sent off for pulling back Barnes, who picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.

There was worse to come for United two minutes later as the defence crumbled again. Pilkington hesitated as he came out to challenge for a free-kick and Barras headed home.

Chris Armstrong scored his first goals for Tottenham Hotspur in a 4-0 victory at home to Chester City. Armstrong, a pounds 4.5m purchase from Crystal Palace during the summer, has failed to find the target in Tottenham's six Premiership matches this season. Last night, however, he needed only 20 minutes to find the net against Chester and promptly added a second goal 10 minutes later. Teddy Sheringham scored Tottenham's third shortly before the interval and Ronny Rosenthal added the fourth.

Aston Villa and Norwich City both scored six goals at home to opposition from the lower divisions. Mark Draper set Villa on their way to a 6-0 thrashing of Second Division Peterborough United with a stunning shot after Dwight Yorke was fouled by Billy Manuel on the edge of the area. Andy Townsend flicked up the 12th-minute free-kick for Draper to hit a first-time volley into the net from 20 yards.

Two penalties from Yorke, a first goal of the season from Tommy Johnson, an own goal from Greg Heald and Gareth Southgate's first goal for Villa made the second leg a formality. Villa were 3-0 ahead at the interval by which time Posh's Lee Williams had been sent off.

Ade Akinbiyi ended his long wait for his first senior goal in Norwich's 6-1 thrashing of Third Division Torquay at Carrow Road. The striker had made 26 appearances for the Canaries without finding the net, but took only 15 minutes to break his duck and went on to add a second.

Mike Sheron, his striking partner, also scored twice to make the second leg at Plainmoor in two weeks' time another formality. Norwich's other goals came from Ian Crook and an own goal from the Torquay defender, Ian Gore.

To their credit, Torquay never gave up and pulled a goal back after 56 minutes when Ian Hathaway beat Andy Marshall at the near post following a quickly taken free-kick.

Norwich's victory was soured, though, by the sending-off of their 18- year-old debutant Karl Simpson 13 minutes from time.

Results, reports, page 27