Manchester United 2-0 Barnsley, Danny Welbeck scores his 2nd and Michael Owen scores his 3rd goal of his season + HQ Highlights

Man of the Match- Danny Welbeck scored a fantastic goal from a corner kick through an unmarked header.

Manchester United 2-0 Barnsley

Match Gallery
The Frenchaman was a debutant today and had a good game too, nearly scored as well!

Owen being congratulated by Anderson.

So who made it to the squad today? Who was booked and who was subsituted?

GK: Ben Foster made it to the game today. It might have been shocking to some after his poor performance lately but he actually did quite well.

Defenders: Neville (SENT OFF at 62'), Fabio (Booked), Brown, Evans

Midfielders: Welbeck (scored at 6' and also substituted by an impressive Serb - Zoran Tosic at 53' due to a minor injury) , Anderson, Rafael and Obertan (Debut)

Forwards: Owen (scored at 60'), Federico Macheda!

Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen gave Manchester United a 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Barnsley at Oakwell. The match wasn't greatly a classic one but I would like to talk through some important points in this comprehensive United victory.


Welbeck, pictured above, scored after six minutes with Owen scoring just before the hour mark on a tuesday night that saw Gary Neville sent off for the visitors. After Neville was sent off, Fabio took his place and soon after when Owen was substituted, there was no senior player in the whole United squad. United played quite decently actually in the last half an hour of the game with an average age of the players of about 19 or 20 years!


Barnsley had plenty of chances to score but consistently failed to find the target as their cup run came crashing to an end. They had about 12 shots out of which only a couple were on target, one hitting the cross bar and the other saved excellently by Ben Foster.


I must say the visitors started the match in a more aggressive fashion, pushing upfield at every chance with Danny Welbeck on the left and debutant Obertan on the right causing problems for the defence.


United continued to dominate the early exchanges as they looked completely in control, with Obertan drawing a superb save from Steele on 19 minutes as he looked certain to score on his debut! But just couldn't!!


But from then on the Tykes seemed to get the measure of their hosts, hanging on to the ball well and beginning to make chances. The first 15' belonged to United and the last 20-25 completely belonged to the Tykes.


And twice in the next 10 minutes Barnsley defender Stephen Foster had two good headers from corners that went first wide to the right and then just over the bar.


The changed pattern of the match seemed to wake United's dormant midfield up, and they once again began to hang on to the ball better and played the half out safely.


Just three minutes into the second half Owen had a chance to put the visitors well in control, being played through by a terrific ball from Anderson and having just the keeper to beat from inside the box.


But the fast-charging defender Foster came through in time to put on a bit of pressure, and Owen's atrociously feeble finish dribble weakly off the pitch.


It was just the sort of finish that would make Fabio Capello's life easier by removing any prospect of Owen going to South Africa next year - but the diminutive striker made amends 10 minutes later with a great bit of control that gave him the second goal.


Danny Welbeck was substituted by the Serb-Zoran Tosic. He looked extremely impressive and nearly scored from a great long range shot. The Serb was too comfortable with the ball but also was booked towards the end.



Anderson put the ball through to Owen from the left, but it was the striker's deft bit of control and short burst of acceleration that took him past three Barnsley players and gave him the space to fire a perfectly-placed shot into the bottom right corner. 2-0!


Barnsley refused to give in despite the second goal, and when Gary Neville was dismissed three minutes later for keeping his studs up on the follow through of an otherwise well-won challenge against Hammill. He was completely shocked and saddened to see the Ref's decision but I think he deserved it.


But Ben Foster showed the class that has earned him international honours with an outstanding diving save to his left that prevented a seemingly certain goal. It was completely athletic! Well done to the Englishman, if he keeps doing such good stuff, he should imagine that he has answered the critics coz u know! u have to perform well at United once people expect stuff from you.


It was a cruel blow to a side who deserved at least a consolation blow, and with the players' legs fading and the crowd's singing dying down, United closed the match out comfortably.


Though the holders were good value for their spot in the next round, Barnsley's players will be lamenting the lack of quality finishing that saw them blow all the chances they had to make a contest of it.


Gunnar Solskjær (Present United Reserves team manager and one of the most successful former United player) was also seen enjoying the game. One of the commentator commented "He must be enjoying his life, look 'He has a wrinkle in his smile'"!


There was a funny moment towards the end of the match when a couple of Barnsley fans stepped on the pitch, snatched the ball off Foster, started passing the ball amongst themselves and ACTUALLY SCORED! The funny thing was, that Ben Foster tried to stop them very seriously. Don't the players need more security than this? Anyone could have come and stabbed Foster!!