Neville sent off as Owen hits target
BARNSLEY (0)
MANCHESTER UTD (2)
HOLDERS Manchester United secured their place in the last eight of the Carling Cup – but not before suffering another sending off and looking suspect in defence again.
Strikers Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck were employed in a three-man attack, and the pair both delivered with goals early in each half. But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s evening was tainted by seeing captain Gary Neville shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge.
And his much-changed rearguard failed to keep their Championship opponents at bay, with Barnsley only denied at least a draw by their own wasteful finishing.
Those two aspects had echoes of Sunday’s Premier League defeat at Liverpool, when United’s defence was exposed and centre-back Nemanja Vidic was dismissed. Welbeck headed United in front before Owen nutmegged a defender and slotted home.