Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to be nodding off in the first half. Casemiro's contributions in the second will have been suitably stimulating for those in the cushy Old Trafford directors' box.
In times of need, Manchester United still have a five-times Champions League winner to call upon in the opponent's penalty area. It had to be the consummate Casemiro who ended Reading's resistance.
The boys from Brazil broke through. Antony and Casemiro were United's most consistent and creative performers before they combined in the 54th minute, the winger drifting inside and playing the ball into the channel for the onrushing Casemiro to clip over goalkeeper Joe Lumley.
