On the 13th anniversary of Clough snr’s death, Manchester United put Burton to the sword as they began their defence of the newly-named Carabao Cup in some style.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial led Nigel Clough’s Championship team a merry dance with their pace and skill as United scored four for the fourth time this season.
United had the third round tie sown up by half-time with two from Rashford and a deflected effort from Jesse Lingard.
But there was no easing up after the break and Martial capped a brilliant display by adding a well-deserved fourth on the hour. Mourinho, as expected, made nine changes but it was more of a surprise that Clough also made nine.
He explained he wanted to reward the players who had helped Burton through against Oldham and Cardiff in the first two rounds.
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With United in this sort of ruthless mood, he could argue that it probably would not have mattered what team he had fielded.
The last time these teams met – when United won an FA Cup third round replay in January 2006 – there were over 100 places between them in football’s pyramid. This time the gap had narrowed to 38 places but in the end Burton were outclassed as they were 11 years ago.
Clough admitted that he had turned off his television after only 10 minutes of United’s win over Everton saying he had seen enough, with Mourinho’s in-form team already 1-0 up from Antonio Valencia’s goal.
But his hopes that his team would not concede early lasted only five minutes. Rashford’s strike was not as spectacular as Valencia’s was on Sunday but just as clinical.
Michael Carrick may have been making his first start of the season but his passing was still pin-sharp.
He played a ball into Lingard whose clever flick set up Rashford with a chance he took with some aplomb.
Rashford added a second after 17 minutes. He turned on to Daley Blind’s pass and away from Tom Flanagan to make room for a 20-yard shot that clipped the inside of the net as it flew in. Juan Mata then had three attempts to make it 3-0.
He hit the post after a delightful nutmeg on Hope Akpan and had two other shots saved by the over-worked Connor Ripley.
It was mostly backs-against-the wall for Burton but they did threaten themselves on three occasions. Luke Varney had an early shot saved by Sergio Romero, who also blocked an effort by Joe Mason while Jamie Allen lifted a shot over the bar.
Luke Shaw returned to action as a half-time sub for Mata and was played on the left side of midfield in his first appearance since suffering an ankle ligament injury in April.
But United continued to press and Martial’s frustration continued when he danced past two defenders but saw his shot saved by Ripley.
But the French international finally found the net after an hour with a goal that highlighted his skill and pace. He played a one-two with Rashford before sliding the return pass past Ripley to make it four. Martial went close again as United kept the pressure on to the end.
In stoppage time Lloyd Dyer lashed in a consolation goal for Burton.