If you had said the words ‘seven nil’ to Manchester United supporters before Tuesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Barnsley, it would have been enough to spark a bout of PTSD.
This time, however, it was Erik ten Hag’s side who found themselves cracking open a cold can of 7Up and toasting a roasting.
Manchester United stormed to their biggest win of the Ten Hag era as they put Barnsley to the sword at Old Trafford.
For so often, a criticism aimed this Red Devils side is that they have a tendency to let the opposition off the hook and make poor decisions in the final third. A case in point; no team has missed more ‘big chances’ in the Premier League this season than United’s 12.
So the manner in which Man United racked up the chances and racked up the goals against an admittedly League One Barnsley outfit felt like a team who – after hitting three past Southampton on Saturday – have maybe seen the penny drop after a wasteful start to the season.
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“I think we had to get into (the game) and, when we got the first goal, it got easier,” a masterful Christian Eriksen told Sky Sports (17 September, 10pm) after hitting a brace and controlling the tempo throughout.
“I think we were very clinical, the chances we put away.
“When you have those ups and downs, it’s about getting out of them and staying on top. It is nice to get some goals.”
While Alejandro Garnacho has flown out of the blocks this term – four goals in six appearances now – Marcus Rashford’s campaign was mirrored, to an extent, by United’s performance against Barnsley.
A sluggish start, followed by an explosion of confidence and once the deadlock was broken. Rashford had not scored a single goal in United’s first four games of 2024/25. Now, he is on three, just days after club football returned following the September international break.
The growing understanding between Rashford, Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo, meanwhile, feels like another huge boost for a side who’s frontline looked about as free-flowing as frozen peanut butter last term.
Alejandro Garnacho hits a brace against Barnsley
“It is important to have them relationships on the pitch as a front unit, (and) linking with the midfield,” Rashford said when asked about that Garnacho connection, the latter setting up the former for his second of the night.
“Before the first goal, it was difficult. But after we made better decisions and were able to score.
“You know, football you sometimes have ups and you have downs. But we have to use these games to build momentum, consistency, and try your best to bring your best level.
“I hope (this is the start of a good run). We will move onto the next game, rest, recover, and focus on the next one.”
Of course, all of this progress will be forgotten pretty quickly if Man United return to those bad old habits away to a struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
How many times over the years have Man United appeared to turn a corner, only to trip over their own feet in the very next outing? There has never been any doubt about this team’s ability to perform brilliantly on one-off occasions.
Now, it is time for United – and Marcus Rashford in particular – to turn performances like this into a far more regular occurance.
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