Aldershot 0 Manchester United 3: Fergie given a Shot in the arm

Disappointment is never allowed to linger long at Manchester United. Victories certainly help, whoever they are against.

On a wet night in Hampshire, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team took the first step to putting their Manchester derby humiliation behind them with a victory that was as comfortable as Sunday’s defeat had been distressing.

The circumstances couldn’t have been more different. There were only 7,000 crammed in to the EBB Stadium and Ferguson fielded 11 different players who did not feature in Sunday’s starting line-up.

Opening salvo: Dimitar Berbatov celebrates scoring Manchester United's first goal against Aldershot

The name and reputation of the Barclays Premier League champions remained as stake, though.

It’s rare that United lose successive games and first half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen — along with a stunner from Antonio Valencia just after half-time — ensured that Sunday’s result will stand out in the record books as a one-off rather than the start of a sequence.

From that perspective at least, Ferguson couldn’t have asked for more. Fergie always uses these games as an excuse to blood younger players but also to rehabilitate those who have lost form or confidence. Usually it works.

This season has already seen United travel to Elland Road and win 3-0 against Leeds in this competition.

Tuesday night’s United team was certainly predictable. Owen  — who seems to like this competition — took a night off from his Twitter page to partner Berbatov up front. At Leeds, Owen was electric and Berbatov anything but.

Double trouble: Michael Owen (left) fires United's second goal as they take control against Aldershot

Out of the woods: Trees hang over the EBB Stadium where Aldershot hosted Manchester United

Elsewhere, Nemanja Vidic — left out of the 16 at the weekend after a horror show in the Champions League last week — was given the opportunity to work on his fitness at the centre of defence.
It was a little surprising to see Phil Jones in the starting eleven but that was perhaps a decision born out of necessity.

Promising defender Ezekiel Fryers was also included after his impressive show at Leeds while on the bench sat young forward Ravel Morrison, a talented but wayward player who people at Old Trafford have spoken so much about.

Who's the daddy: Owen celebrates as he continued his good scoring record in the Carling Cup

Centre of attention: All eyes were on Sir Alex Ferguson as he brought his star-studded side to Aldershot

As for Aldershot, this was undoubtedly the League Two club’s biggest night for many years. United had been here once before — winning 3-1 in 1970 — but the Hampshire club has been through a lot since then. There was even a period of closure in the 1990s and the queues around the stadium two hours before kick-off last night said everything about what this game meant to the locals.

Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth had already seen his team beat West Ham away in this competition this season and the former Bolton and Wimbledon striker had spoken beforehand of beating United and taking Aldershot to Wembley.

Signed, sealed, delivered: Antonio Valencia (centre) celebrates scoring United's third goal

Up close and personal: United boss Ferguson goes to the dugout at Aldershot's tight EBB Stadium

As the rain fell before kick-off, that notion seemed a little fanciful. 

Certainly, the home team played with gusto in the first half — right-sided midfield player Jermaine McGlashan causing the United defence some early moments of concern with his direct running and ambition.

Clumsy: Nemanja Vidic trips Aldershot's Alex Rodman early in the first half of the Carling Cup clash

Indeed, such was the energetic nature of Aldershot’s start that Vidic was drawn in to a lunging foul on Alex Rodman. The Serbian was booked, something that he really didn’t need, given his sending off in Romania a week ago.

United soon settled, though, and served notice of their capacity for attacking fluency when Tom Cleverley — another player returning from injury — advanced to the edge of the penalty area and curled a shot over the bar.

Solemn: Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth (right) watches his side lose out to United

This moment seemed to encourage United and it wasn’t long before Ferguson’s team scored, Berbatov finishing off an intricate passing move with a sidefooted shot low in to the corner in the 15th minute.

It was a simple goal and for a spell it looked as though United may take control as young Fabio da Silva wasted a chance by shooting wide and Berbatov appealed in vain for a penalty.

Battle rages: Manchester United's Ezekiel Fryers (right) tries to tackle Jermaine McGlashan

Aldershot recovered their composure and looked like ending the first half on the front foot as McLashan shot over and United goalkeeper Ben Amos fielded a near post shot from Luke Guttridge.

But United broke via Berbatov in the 41st minute and Owen scored first time with his right foot when the ball was squared to him 16 yards out. 

To concede so late in the half was unfortunate for Holdsworth’s team.

Sadly, things got worse soon after the restart as Antonio Valencia advanced to spank a rising 25-yard drive high in to the roof of the net with his right foot and take United into Saturday’s quarter-final draw.

Berbatov almost scored his second on the hour but dragged his left-foot shot across goal.