Manchester United would have picked out that Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley as a potentially invaluable evening in terms of building their confidence and padding those stats.
A third-tier team arriving at Old Trafford under the lights.
What an opportunity this was for Marcus Rashford, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and co to prove – even against limited opposition – that they still have plenty to offer Erik ten Hag at a Manchester United side in a period of transition and where almost every player is fighting for their future.
And as the masterful Eriksen struck a late brace to secure the heaviest win of the Ten Hag era – the Red Devils putting seven past a beleaguered Barnsley without reply – even the most optimistic Man United fan surely could not have expected things to go quite this swimmingly.
After impressing against Southampton in Saturday’s 3-0 morale-boosting win, the perennially exit-linked Eriksen proved that, while his legs are not quite as quick as they used to be, his brain remains as sharp as ever.
Marcus Rashford hits brace in Manchester United win
Rashford and Garnacho hit two apiece – much to the delight of their manager – while even Antony got his name on the scoresheet with a well-taken penalty kick.
For Eriksen, the sight of Rashford barging his way through the Barnsley backline before firing a wicked finish into the top corner of Gabriel Slonina’s net was refreshing to say the least.
Rashford has always been what they call ‘a confidence player’.
And, after ending his goal drought at St Mary’s, the manner in which Man United’s number ten took his two goals against Darrell Clarke’s Tykes would have been a fearsome sight for any defender facing a trip to Old Trafford in the coming weeks.
“He’s a goalscorer, you know. We need him at his best,” Eriksen tells the official Manchester United YouTube channel when asked about Rashford’s electrifying display. “I’m sure he will improve even more.
“He is always creating chances for the team and for himself. And, now, he’s putting them away. So we’ve got to cross our fingers that he is going to continue.
Erik ten Hag delighted with 7-0 Barnsley thrashing
Rashford was given the Man of the Match award by Sky Sports despite a mesmerising performance from partner-in-crime Garnacho.
Since the international break – Rashford responded to being left out of the England squad by going the extra mile on the training pitch – United’s homegrown hero has three goals in just three days.
“(Rashford’s first of the night was a) brilliant goal. But also some other goals were also very good,” Ten Hag tells Sky, delighted by a performance full of ‘speed and ruthlessness in front of goal’.
“The fans liked it. They appreciated it. You could feel the good bond between the team and the fans, and we gave the fans some nice goals. In my first season, (Rashford) also had this vibe, this good mood. I am confident that he will score.
“I think last season was difficult for everyone but, in the end, end we went away with a trophy. You can’t forget this. We want to progress, we want to be better, we are very ambitious.
“Marcus Rashford wants to score goals but not only Marcus Rashford. (The whole team was) really hungry and looking for goals.”
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
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