Football: Rashford strikes for Man United as Charlton stun Brighton in League Cup

LONDON – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is pleased after his team beat Burnley 2-0 at home in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday, but insists that there is still room for improvement.

Marcus Rashford marked his return from World Cup duty with a brilliant solo goal as United advanced to the quarter-finals, while Premier League rivals Brighton were knocked out by third-tier Charlton.

“(We played) against a good team. I think they were good on the ball. It’s difficult to get the press on (them) but I think we did,” said ten Hag.

“We had a lot of high regains, we had a lot of transitional moments. I think we need to take a little bit (from) that.

“There is definitely room for improvement, we have to work on that, but of course I am pleased with a win.”

On Rashford, he added: “I think he invested a lot once again with a lot of runs behind the defending line and he scored a great goal in the dribble, great finish.

“I think he is in great form and of course I hope he can keep his focus and this performance.

“He is on a very good level, his performances are improving a lot from game to game. He’s a continued threat but also many other games this season he’s scored a lot of goals and does a lot of defending work.”

United’s first game since the World Cup – and their first since Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from Old Trafford – saw them go ahead in the 27th minute through Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, who also featured at Qatar 2022.

Out-of-favour right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, playing in place of the injured Diogo Dalot, sent a cross into the six-yard box at full stretch to set up Eriksen from close range.

Rashford, who scored three goals for England at the World Cup, doubled United’s lead against second-tier Championship leaders Burnley, managed by former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany, just before the hour mark in superb style.

The England forward went on a run from inside his own half and into the visitors’ box before drilling a shot low into the net.

Ten Hag also said that Wan-Bissaka, who has struggled with injuries this season, has a future at the club despite rumours that he is set to be sold in the January transfer market.

“It is clear he has a future (here),” the United boss said. “He’s had some good years with United, but from the start of this season he had a lot of illnesses and injuries, and so was running behind.

“His fitness levels are getting better, his performance levels are getting better.

“When you get an assist, especially the way he got that assist with his movement and the right moment, this is great and so I’m happy with his performance. He did good.”

Brighton bowed out on spot kicks three days after their Argentina midfield star Alexis Mac Allister won the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out over holders France in Qatar.

Mac Allister was not involved on Wednesday after being given time off following his World Cup heroics and was thus spared any involvement at the south-east London home ground of League One Charlton.

A 0-0 draw saw the game go to penalties and, after Addicks goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer saved from Moises Caicedo’s effort, it was left to Sam Lavelle to score the decisive goal as Charlton booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 4-3 shoot-out win.

Nottingham Forest, four-time winners of the League Cup, had no such problems against lower-league opposition, the top-flight strugglers defeating Championship high-fliers Blackburn Rovers 4-1.

Forest went ahead at Ewood Park through Brennan Johnson’s 13th-minute penalty before Scott Wharton made amends for conceding the spot kick by equalising on the stroke of half-time.

But further goals from Jesse Lingard, Taiwo Awoniye and Johnson again took Forest into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994. AFP