Manchester United Cleverley avoid cup shock (Video)

Goals from Anderson and Tom Cleverley ensured Manchester United progressed into the last 16 of the Capital One Cup at the expense of Newcastle United.

A late Papiss Cisse header did give the Red Devils a slight scare; however they held on, despite Cisse hitting the bar in spectacular style and will face Chelsea in the next round.

Both sides fielded far from their greatest sides, whilst give starts to those who needed match fitness with Wayne Rooney playing for the first time in four weeks.

Dan Gosling missed an early chance to give the visitors the lead as he fluffed his volley after a Shola Ameobi knock down, but it wasn’t the worst miss of the first half as Cleverley, who was put through superbly by Javier Hernandez, put wide when one on one with Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal.

Manchester United did get their goal just before half-time though as Anderson, who had a brilliant game, ran past Gosling and curled in superbly from 25 yards.

Half-time came and went and Cleverley finally opened his Manchester United account from the edge of the box. The finish wasn’t exactly in the corner, however Elliot’s view was heavily impaired and the former Charlton keeper didn’t really have a chance.

Alan Pardew made a double change with his side two down, and they combined to get the Geordie’s back in the match. Shane Ferguson’s cross was a precise one and Cisse at the back post had the simplest of tasks to head into the gaping goal.

It was Cisse’s first goal of the season, and after many extraordinary goals last year, he nearly had another one to add to that list; however his outrageous over-head attempt hit the bar with David De Gea beaten.

The Capital One cup is far from Sir Alex Ferguson’s number one priority this season, but the victory was deserved and United will look to win back the cup they won twice in succession in 2009 and 2010.

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