Carling Cup: Scunthorpe v Manchester United half time report
Scunthorpe 1 Manchester United 2
Holders Manchester United have come from behind to lead against Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup third round at Glanford Park.
Josh Wright put Scunthorpe ahead on 18 minutes with a wonderful strike from the edge of the area after he was picked out by Martyn Woolford. It was a second career goal for the 20-year old, and what a goal it was.
Darren Gibson drew United level four minutes later after he delightfully clipped the ball over Scunthorpe ‘keeper Joe Murphy from a difficult angle.
Chris Smalling scored his first goal for United after finishing from close-range with a quality finish on 36 minutes, getting onto the end of Ji-Sung Park’s drilled cross.
Scunthorpe temporary manager Ian Baraclough said he wasn’t going to sit back against United as most teams do, and he stuck to his word as they attacked United at the start.
Michael O’Connor had an effort with the outside of his foot on five minutes as Scunthorpe began the game well and playing at a high tempo.
Scunthorpe were playing well, and Wright fired in a shot from the edge of the box that fizzed wide of United ‘keeper Tomasz Kuszczak’s goal on eight minutes. Eddie Nolan also had an excellent effort a minute later which was well saved by Kuszczak.
On 15 minutes, Woolford took a shot early which stung the fingertips of Kuszczak to continue the encouraging start the home side had made to the game.
Rafael was fortunate not to see a red card for a dangerous challenge on Scunthorpe skipper Cliff Byrne, but the challenge went unpunished by referee Mike Dean.
Byrne had a great opportunity from a corner kick on 32 minutes, but his header just went over the bar when he would have fancied himself to score.
Kuszczak was lucky not to be embarrassed, as he almost diverted Jonathan Forte’s shot into his own net. Unluckily for Scunthorpe, the ball spun away from the target five minutes before half time.
United only had two decent efforts on goal, and they were vital as they turned up being the goals for the holders of the Carling Cup in the last two years. Scunthorpe were asking all of the questions and the Championship side end up finding themselves behind.
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