MK Dons v Manchester United: Capital One Cup – as it happened
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Version 0 of 1. 10.04pm BST22:04 Well, well, well. That was a comically inept performance from a young Manchester United defence and midfield featuring several players you suspect might never play for the club again. Or, indeed, make it back to Manchester in one piece. The famously volcanic Mount Van Gaal hasn’t erupted publicly since his arrival in England, but I’m guessing it could be any minute now before some reporter sends him over the edge. Thanks for your time and your emails, we’ll have a match report and comment piece up in a bit, under which you’ll be able to moan, bicker, squabble or riff on United pain. Updated at 10.05pm BST 9.57pm BST21:57 Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Manchester United’s humiliation is complete. One of the most unpopular teams in British football has beaten ... em, one of the other most unpopular teams in British football. There’ll be a lot of very confused follk out there tonight, wondering what to make of it all. It may not be the most romantic cup upset in Capital One Cup history, for obvious reasons, but hats off to Karl Robinson and his MK Dons players, who deserve immense credit for battering Manchester United tonight. They’ve gubbed them 4-0 and it could have been worse for Louis van Gaal’s side. Updated at 10.27pm BST 9.54pm BST21:54 90+4 min: It’s telling that Stuart Attwell was poor enough to miss/bottle the obvious penalty shout, but is officious enough to play every second of the four suggested minutes of added time. 9.52pm BST21:52 90 min: Manchester United’s humiliation is almost complete. It will be interesting to see if all the British journalists hailing Louis van Gaal as some sort of quasi-mystic footballing genius start pulling their inevitable u-turns on the back of this performance, or give him more time. Modst of the same fellas waited until after David Moyes was sacked before telling porkies about how they’d always said he wasn’t the right man for the job. 9.49pm BST21:49 88 min: David Martin gets down low to his right to pull off a simply sensational save. Pereira had crossed from the right, for - I think - Wilson to send a powerful header downwards towards the bottom corner. Martin somehow kept it out. Think Gordon Banks v Pele - it looked that good on first view ... although replays may prove I’m talking through my hat. 9.46pm BST21:46 84 min: Marnick Vermijl gives the ball away down by the halfway line and the ball’s played forward to the substitute, Afobe. He rides not one ... not two ... but three feeble tackles from alleged defenders as he bears down on goal, before slotting the ball past De Gea into the bottom left-hand corner. MK dons from the third tier lead Manchester United 4-0 and, if anything, the score-line flatters the Premier League side. Updated at 10.18pm BST 9.43pm BST21:43 GOAL! MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United (Afobe 84) MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. Updated at 10.15pm BST 9.40pm BST21:40 80 min: Adnan Januzaj rattles the left upright with a shot from the inside-left. 9.40pm BST21:40 79 min: Good lord. David De Gea is far too casual with a cross curled in from the left flank and has to back-pedal furiously to prevent the ball bouncing over the line and into the goal. Replays show he kept the ball from crossing the line, but only just. Goal-line technology is not being used, so the ref could have given it if he’d deemed it to have gone in. Updated at 10.18pm BST 9.38pm BST21:38 77 min: Reeves, who’s created all three goals and been the stand-out player tonight, crosses from the left in an attempt to pick out Benik Afobe. Close, but no cigar. 9.36pm BST21:36 76 min: Absolutely shocking defending from Manchester United, as Danny Green helps a bouncing ball over their snoozing defence with a lazy swish of his right foot. Danny Powell chases in from the left, but shoots feebly straight at David De Gea, when he should really have done better. 9.34pm BST21:34 74 min: Before the season began, various pundits were predicting that Manchester United’s absence from Europe this season would be a huge advantage in their Premier League title-tilt, because they’d have fewer matches to play than teams such as Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. They’ll be considered a shoo-in for the league after this. 9.32pm BST21:32 72 min: Manchester United finally get a shot on target against MK Dons. The substitute James Wilson unleashes a shot which David Martin does well to paw over the cross-bar for a corner. The ball was heading for the top left-hand corner, but he managed to keep it out. Great shot and a fine save. 9.30pm BST21:30 MK Dons 3-0 Manchester United (Afobe 69) This is beyond embarrassing for Manchester United now. Reeves turns provider again after Manchester United had lost possession again, playing the ball through to the substitute who slots the ball low past David De Gea with what may have been his first touch. Updated at 10.14pm BST 9.29pm BST21:29 MK Dons substitution: Will Grigg won’t be getting a hat-trick tonight. He makes way for Benik Afobe, who is on loan from Arsenal. 9.27pm BST21:27 65 min: Just before I was so rudely interrupted by the goal, I was telling you that MK Dons had another chance to go 2-0 up. Lewington played Powell in after the delightful back-heel, but the substitute screwed his shot wide. 9.25pm BST21:25 64 min: That was a fine goal. Manchester United squandered possession again (apologies, I didn’t spot the guilty party), allowing Grigg to streak down the field. He played the ball wide to Ben Reeves, who sprinted toweards the corner, before sending in a cross. Unmarked upon his arrival in the Manchester United penalty area, Grigg simply chested the ball past David De Gea, but inside the left post. 9.22pm BST21:22 MK Dons 2-0 Manchester United (Grigg 63) Will Grigg chests the ball past David De Gea and inside the left upright. What a splendid goal! MK Dons lead Manchester United 2-0. 9.22pm BST21:22 62 min: Another great chance for MK Dons, with Danny Powell and Dean Lewington combining well down the left. Powell played the ball to his left-back with a neat back-heel ... oh, hold on! 9.21pm BST21:21 61 min: Dean Lewington crosses from the left, but Marnick Vermijl clears well under pressure. MK Dons substitution: Danny Green on, Samir Carruthers off. 9.19pm BST21:19 59 min: Pereira and Welbeck combine well, carving out an opportunity for the latter to shoot from distance. His effort bounces just wide of the right upright, but I’m pretty sure MK Dons goalkeeper David Martin had it covered. Manchester United shots on target after an hour: 0. Updated at 9.28pm BST 9.18pm BST21:18 56 min: MK Dons substitution: Daniel Powell on, Dean Bowditch off. Manchester United substitution: James Wilson on, Nick Powell off. I’ve just seen a replay of that Jonny Evans hand-ball in the area from Bowditch’s shot - it absolutely beggars belief that MK Dons get a penalty. 9.15pm BST21:15 55 min: Pereira tries a shot at goal rather than a cross, but whips the ball over the bar and wide. Updated at 9.28pm BST 9.14pm BST21:14 53 min: MK Dons are looking pretty comfortable in possession and good for their one-goal lead. There’s little or no urgency about this United team. Samir Carruthers slides in to foul Danny Welbeck in the space between the left side of the MK Dons penalty area and the sideline. Andreas Perreira stands over the free-kick. 9.11pm BST21:11 49 min: Jonny Evans blatantly handles the ball in the penalty area when blocking a shot/cross. Referee Stuart Attwell has a good view, but doesn’t award MK Dons a spot-kick. That is a scandalous decision. Updated at 10.18pm BST 9.08pm BST21:08 47 min: United win a corner, which Anderson fires towards the near post. Jonny Evans makes a run, but the ball goes out for a corner off the head of a man in a white shirt. Another corner for United, which MK Dons clear. 9.05pm BST21:05 Second half: Manchester United kick-off, having made their second change. Andreas Pereira, a Belgium-born Brazilian, comes on for Saidy Janko. He slots into the hole behind the strikers, with Januzaj moving wide. Updated at 9.28pm BST 9.02pm BST21:02 In the Sky Sports Studio, David May has been fairly withering in his criticism of Manchester United. He’s agog at how often and easily they’re giving the ball away, citing Evans and Anderson as the main offenders. He reckons it’s fairly obvious MK Dons “want” this more and thinks they’re worth their lead. It’s hard to disagree with any of what he’s said. 8.49pm BST20:49 It’s half-time and MK Dons lead Manchester United 1-0 in the second round of the Capital One Cup. Will Grigg’s goal came against the run of play, but they won’t mind that. 8.48pm BST20:48 45+1 min: Another wayward pass by Jonny Evans gifts possession back to MK Dons, who must be loving this. Their supporters seem strangely deflated. There’s an obvious gag to be made here about most present supporting the visitors, due to the stadium’s location in the Manchester United heartland of Buckinghamshire , but I’m way too good for that . Updated at 8.48pm BST 8.45pm BST20:45 44 min: The camera cuts to Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs on the Manchester United bench. They have about them the air of men who are in charge of a PRemier League side that’s being beaten by third tier opposition in the second round of the Capital One Cup. Updated at 8.53pm BST 8.43pm BST20:43 43 min: Januzaj picks out Janko on the right flank with a pass from the middle out to the right. He attempts to cross, but Dean Bowditch is on hand to block his effort and put it out for a Manchester United corner. Nothing comes of it. 8.42pm BST20:42 41 min: Will Grigg shakes his head in disapproval after not getting a corner off Jonny Evans. He thinks the linesman has made a mistake. The match has quietened down considerably in the past five minutes or so. 8.39pm BST20:39 38 min: For MK Dons, Anthony Kay and Dele Alli have a bit of a mix-up inside their own half, but aren’t punished for it. 8.37pm BST20:37 36 min: “So Kagawa will be ok?” asks David Flynn. “Still waiting on that call from Fifa about that seat on concussion discussion committee, Barry?” Yep, I’m pretty sure he’ll be OK. 8.35pm BST20:35 34 min: United go on the attack again, with Reece James and Javier Hernandez combining down the left. The ball’s played back to Reece James, who unleashes a fine shot from outside the penalty area. It curls viciously before screaming a foot or so wide of the top left-hand corner and rattling the stanchion holding up the back of the goal net. 8.33pm BST20:33 33 min: Dean Bowditch tries his luck for MK Dons from a long way out. His effort is on target, but doesn’t trouble De Gea. 8.33pm BST20:33 30 min: Some of Manchester United’s defending this season has been dreadful, but that was a horror-rick from Evans which led to the goal. With United on the back foot, deep in their own territory, he stroked the ball casually towards David De Gea, allowing Ben Reeves to poke it into the path of MK Dons striker William Grigg. His task couldn’t have been simpler. 8.30pm BST20:30 28 min: United go in search of an equaliser, with Welbeck holding the ball up before rolling it to his team-mate Nick Powell. United attempt to cross into the penalty area from the right, but the ball’s put out for a throw-in. Referee Stuart Atwell halts play so he can give MK Dons centre-back Kyle McFadzean a ticking-off for rough-housing Welbeck. Updated at 8.55pm BST 8.27pm BST20:27 GOAL! MK Dons 1-0 Manchester United (Grigg 24) 24 min: Manchester United gift a goal to their hosts. Down by the by-line, Jonny Evans miscues a pass to David De Gea, which Ben Reeves pounces on, before poking it into the path of his team-mate, William Grigg. He shoots into a gaping net from about seven yards out. Updated at 8.51pm BST 8.24pm BST20:24 24 min: The word from the Manchester United bench is that Shinji Kagawa is suffering from a mild concussion and blurred vision, hence his withdrawal from the luke-warm heat of battle. 8.23pm BST20:23 23 min: MK Dons full-back Dean Lewington tries a shot from distance, which zooms high and wide. 8.22pm BST20:22 20 min: A mistake by Anderson allows MK dons No10 Ben Reeves to win possession and gallop through the centre, deep into Manchester United territory. He fails to pick out a team-mate with his pass and a promising move breaks down. 8.21pm BST20:21 18 min: Darren Potter is lucky to escape a booking after a late, fairly brutal challenge on Nick Powell. Following his head injury earlier, Shinji Kagawa comes off, to be replaced by Adnan Januzaj. 8.18pm BST20:18 16 min: On the edge of the penalty area, Dele Alli attempts to get in behind the Manchester United defence and help a meaty Darren Potter header from deep past De Gea. The goalkeeper beats him to the ball. 8.15pm BST20:15 14 min: “I like how you distinguished that it’s Michael Keane in the United line-up by adding his first name, lest some chancer think that they’ve gotten so desperate that they’ve asked Roy back,” writes Raymond, who may not be aware that Michael Keane’s brother Will also plays for Manchester United. “Though given the state of their midfield I do wonder if Roy might be worth a punt.” 8.13pm BST20:13 13 min: With his back to goal on the edge of the Manchester United penalty area, MK dons centre-back McFadzean controls the ball with an audacious flick, before swiveling and attempting to volley it goalwards. His ambitious effort is high and wide of United’s goal. 8.12pm BST20:12 11 min: Another nice pass through the centre for Welbeck to chase, this time from Kagawa. MK Dons goalkeeper David Martin is quick off his line to get down and smother the ball before Welbeck can lift it over him. Good goalkeeping. 8.11pm BST20:11 10 min: Anderson plays a wonderful defence-splitting 50 yard pass through the centre for Javier Hernandez to chase. Kyle McFadzean is alert to the danger and intercepts, only to be fouled by the Mexican. Free-kick for MK Dons. 8.09pm BST20:09 9 min: Shinji Kagawa goes down hurt after an accidental clash of heads with Darren Potter. He walks to the touchline, rubbing his face and spitting to check if he’s bleeding, but there’s no sign of claret. He’ll be OK. 8.08pm BST20:08 8 min: David De Gea lumps the ball forward for United, but MK Dons win possession. They slow what’s been a fairly frantic game down with some passing round the back, but lose possession when Dean Lewington comes under pressure and is forced to hoof the ball forward and out of play. 8.06pm BST20:06 5 min: Nothing comes from the corner and MK Dons go on a rare sortie into Unityed territory. Dean Bowditch drives forward into United territory, but hares down a blind alley and is dispossessed. 8.05pm BST20:05 4 min: Javier Hernandez wins a corner, his low diagonal shot going out off George Baldock. Moments previously, Nick Powell had fired over from distance for United, after being teed up by Reece James. Powell powered through midfield, played the ball wide to James and sprinted forward for the return pass. His effort wasn’t too far away. 8.04pm BST20:04 3 min: Just three minutes in and United are already exerting their authority. Danny Welbeck is causing MK Dons all sorts of bother down the left flank. 8.03pm BST20:03 2 min: Jonny Evans pings the ball towards Danny Welbeck on the left flank. He turns a couple of defenders before playing it cross-field to Shinji Kagawa. United win a corner, which MK Dons clear, but only as far as Saidy Janko in the middle of the park. 8.01pm BST20:01 1 min: MK Dons kick off, playing from right to left in a stuffed stadium. They immediately attack down the right flank, with Samir Carruthers and Dele Alli combining. United embark on the counter-attack, turning defence into attack courtesy of Danny Welbeck’s scorching pace. 8.00pm BST20:00 Interesting fact, courtesy of Sky: MK Dons gaffer Karl Robinson had just turned eight when Louis van Gaal took his first job in management at Ajax in 1991. 7.58pm BST19:58 Not long now: The teams make their way on to the pitch to a soundtrack of Guns N’Roses’ Welcome To The Jungle. MK Dons players wear white shirts, shorts and socks, while Manchester United’s are in red shirts, black shorts and black socks. Reece James and Saidy Janko make their Manchester United debuts in the left and right wing back positions respectively. Good luck to them. 7.51pm BST19:51 stadium:mk will be rocking tonight. MK Dons expect to fill it for the very first time with a record crowd of 28,000. Looking at their odds of 8-1 and that United line-up, you’d have to say they’re worth a wee punt. Updated at 8.54pm BST 7.48pm BST19:48 MK Dons v Manchester United - line-ups MK Dons: Martin, Baldock, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington, Carruthers, Potter, Reeves, Alli, Bowditch, Grigg. Subs: Green, Spence, Randall, McLoughlin, Powell, Hitchcock, Afobe. Man Utd: De Gea, Vermijl, Evans, Michael Keane, James, Janko, Anderson, Kagawa, Powell, Welbeck, Hernandez. Subs: Januzaj, Zaha, Amos, Wilson, Pereira, McNair, Thorpe. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire) 7.35pm BST19:35 Every fibre of David May's being wants to pick that trophy up and celebrate with it, undeservedly. pic.twitter.com/zGZLaN18kT 7.24pm BST19:24 I’ll bring you the full line-ups with substitutes as soon as they appear on the wires. But first, some introductions, for anybody who might be unfamiliar with some of the names in the United line-up. Saidy Janko is a Swiss U-19 international who Manchester United signed from FC Zurich, who can play right-back, right-wing and also in a right-sided midfield role. Marnick Vermijl is a staple in the Manchester United reserves with one senior appearance to his name. Nick Powell is a goalscoring midfielder with six appearances to his name since signing from Crewe in the summer of 2012, while the Manchester United website describes Reece James as “a reliable full-back” who “is confident in possession, economical with his passing and fully aware of his defensive duties”. If true, that ought to give him an edge over several more senior defenders who’ve played in the first two competitive matches of the Van Gaal era. 7.08pm BST19:08 BREAKING: Angel Di Maria has completed his move to #mufc for a British record fee of £59.7m. #WelcomeDiMaria pic.twitter.com/ySiDmJM0gD 7.06pm BST19:06 United XI: De Gea, M Keane, Evans, Vermijl, James, Powell, Janko, Anderson, Hernandez, Kagawa, Welbeck #MUFClive pic.twitter.com/Q15kjsHeM4 Updated at 7.06pm BST 7.05pm BST19:05 #mkdons starting XI: Martin; Baldock, Lewington (c), Kay, McFadzean; Alli, Potter; Bowditch, Reeves, Carruthers; Grigg. #MKDvMAN 7.05pm BST19:05 One to watch: A second round Capital One Cup match in late August may not be one to get the pulse racing, but local lad Dele Alli is 18 years old and has been playing for MK Dons since he was 16. Already linked with moves to Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle and United this summer, the England U-17 and U-18 international has been described by Karl Robinson as “one of the most gifted 17-year-olds this country has ever seen”. The MK Dons manager added: “I’ve said from the word go, he’s as good as it gets and he’s the best young player I’ve ever worked with.” Indeed, so highly thought of is the youngster that Bayern Munich are understood to be sending representatives to monitor him this evening. Quite what they’ll have made of Milton Keynes’s famous concrete cows, if they saw them, is anyone’s guess. 7.00pm BST19:00 Good evening everybody. Welcome to our coverage of this evening’s Capital One Cup second round tie between MK Dons and Manchester United at the lower-case stadium:mk in the first ever meeting of two of England football’s most famous “franchises”. With no European football with which to concern themselves, this is United’s first time to enter the competition at this stage in 19 seasons and many suspect Louis van Gaal’s side could slip up against Karl Robinson’s League One side, who beat their south London replacements AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in the previous round. MK Dons have had a decent start to the season, winning two and losing one of their three games, while Manchester United’s troubles have been well documented. |