Don’t try telling Bruno Fernandes to take it easy because the World Cup is just over a week away.
Fernandes played like this was his last game as he inspired Manchester United’s rousing comeback to atone for Sunday’s defeat at Villa Park. Fernandes made the first of United’s two equalisers before he scored their decisive third goal to help send them through to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
On a night when Cristiano Ronaldo was selected for his fifth World Cup and given the evening off by Erik ten Hag, Fernandes more than made up for his fellow Portuguese’s absence. He showed the sort of desire which was lacking in United’s disappointing loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford celebrated his World Cup call-up by scoring United’s second in front of the watching Steve Holland. Harry Maguire was not so impressive on what was only his fifth start of the season and questions remain about his form and match fitness going to Qatar.
Sequels often disappoint and the first half of this second meeting between the sides in five days lacked the intensity and entertainment of Sunday’s clash at Villa Park. But the tie exploded into action when Villa scored in the 48th minute and United equalised seconds later.
Jacob Ramsey played Ollie Watkins in and the Villa striker, who failed to make Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, produced an excellent finish to score past Martin Dubravka on his United debut, with the Reds Devils vainly appealing Boubacar Kamara handled in the build-up.
United levelled 19 seconds after the restart when Diogo Dalot sent Fernandes away down the right and he centred for Anthony Martial to slot home on only his second start under Ten Hag.
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Villa hit back to take the lead on 61 minutes when Ashley Young swung over a cross to the back post and Leon Bailey, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, headed the ball back across for Dalot to divert it into his own net.
Now, we had a proper cup tie and United equalised again six minutes later with a goal from Rashford. Young tackled Christian Eriksen and the ball broke for Rashford to evade Tyrone Mings and Calum Chambers to fire home.
It was all United and Robin Olsen saved from Fernandes and Maguire, captain again for the night, before the Villa 'keeper dropped a clanger to allow the home side to take the lead 12 minutes from time.
Olsen kicked the ball straight to Alejandro Garnacho, who fed Fernandes and his shot was deflected home off the despairing Mings. Scott McTominay made sure of victory in the first minute of stoppage time when he netted from Garnacho’s cross.
