Tranmere Rovers hit for six as Manchester United cruise through to FA Cup fifth round

On a mud-pile at Prenton Park there was an expectation that Manchester United might slip up, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would even be buried, but they picked their way past Tranmere Rovers with a rare nimbleness. On such an uneven pitch and in such an uneven season United found a little equilibrium.

Five first-half goals earned them a place in Monday’s FA Cup fifth round draw and eased the pressure on Solskjaer who knew he could not afford to go out of two cup competitions in a week after losing two Premier League games. Despite facing Manchester City away in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, trailing 3-1, the United manager named a strong line-up against the League One strugglers – who are 21^st and in the relegation places – but who had knocked out Watford and that selection in itself showed the scrutiny he is under.

While there was a boon on the pitch – with six different scorers and even including Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones - it was less comfortable off it for executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the Glazer family with the visiting United fans again running through their songs demanding they go, and worse.

The covers had came off an hour before kick-off, the ball had stuck in the mud and it looked set for a potential cup upset given United’s fragility but it proved too much for Tranmere who were unchanged, overwhelmed and evidently fatigued from Thursday night when they had played 120 minutes on this bog of a pitch to eventually overcome a much-changed Watford. Interestingly Angel Gomes, who had travelled with the United squad, did not even make the bench with the club denying he had been disciplined for turning up late for training.

United scored three goals in just six minutes – including a first for captain Harry Maguire, a first for Diogo Dalot and a first in over a year for Lingard – and ended the first-half with Jones, yes him, adding a fourth before half-time with a fifth from Anthony Martial in a remarkably ruthless opening 45 minutes.

United had been under intense pressure, with Jones booked, and the ball in their penalty box, until they claimed their burst of goals. For the first Harry Maguire collected possession and strode forward, pushing the ball away from David Perkins before striking a powerful, rising drive from 25 yards that caught out goalkeeper Scott Davies.

Three minutes later Dalot, one of six changes, cut in from the right to cleverly beat Liam Ridehalgh to angle a crisp right-foot shot across Davies and into the net. Three minutes after that and Lingard received the ball outside the area after another strong run from Maguire and with no defender closing him down he bent it right-footed around Davies to end the contest.

And to think Tranmere had dominated the opening 10 minutes to such an extent that United had abandoned their formation, ditching the back three and with Jones looking like he had been dragged through the mud, which he had. United had struggled to clear the ball with Tranmere’s Morgan Ferrier bullying them.

Maybe there was hope in that Tranmere had salvaged the same deficit at Vicarage Road to force the replay against Watford but it quickly became impossible. There were two more goals with the first resulting from a simplicity that showed Tranmere were not only tired but knew the game was up. Andreas Pereira swung a corner in deep and as Maguire went to ground the ball was met by Jones beyond the far post and he looped a header back across goal and over Davies who, just before half-time, was left rooted once more as Martial also beat him. Again there was no pressure on the forward as he curled his shot from the corner of the area around the goalkeeper.

It meant Solskjaer could make changes with Martial and Matic going off to be replaced by Tahith Chong and Fred. And it was Chong, the 20-year-old Dutchman, who earned the next chance to score as he was brought down by Davies after bursting into the Tranmere area. The opportunity to score from the penalty spot was eventually handed to Mason Greenwood – with Maguire having to intervene as the players discussed who should take the kick and it looked like Pereira would – and he rolled his low shot into the net. Solskjaer had told Maguire to make Greenwood take it and he claimed his 10^th goal of the campaign which meant the 18-year-old has scored in every competition he has played in this season.

It looked like United would threaten to beat their biggest ever FA Cup – an 8-0 victory over Yeovil Town – with Chong rattling the cross-bar but Tranmere, who lost 7-0 here last season to Tottenham Hotspur, rallied with substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy also going close with a shot from distance.

4:50PM

FULL TIME

Great result for United who were excellent today. A clear gulf in quality between the two sides - Tranmere didn't do much wrong.

4:48PM

90 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Two minutes of added time to come. Not entirely sure why.

4:45PM

88 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

United still looking to score more but it's only really the youngsters who are bursting to get at goal. Everyone else staying nice and chilled, controlling the game.

4:43PM

86 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

What a turn by Williams. He takes the ball with his back to goal and spins past two defenders at once, Lingard keeps the move going and Chong crashes a shot off the bar from wide inside the box.

4:41PM

84 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Shaw has a shot at goal saved low by the goalkeeper after a cruise control passing move by United.

4:39PM

82 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Ooooooohhhhhh this boy looks like he can play! Hepburn-Murphy turns two players inside out with a clever turn, sets up the shot and curls it just wide of the far post!

4:36PM

79 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Awful free-kick. Could tell from the way he was standing that the ball was going to end up flying high.

4:35PM

78 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

A free-kick in Beckham Territory! Except it's for Tranmere. Big chance to pull one back. Romero sets up his wall, three Tranmere players lineup the kick but Mullin will hit it.

4:34PM

76 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

So close to seven. Lingard cuts onto his right foot outside the box and curls a shot just wide of the far post.

4:31PM

73 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Blackett-Taylor boots a shot miles over the bar, leaning back while taking it. That's his last involvement. Hepburn-Murphy replaces him, Mullin comes on for Ferrier.

4:28PM

70 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

United patiently waiting for a high quality shooting chance, passing around looking for a gap. The ball won't quite sit up to hit from outside the box because of bobbling on the turf.

Chong gets a low strike at goal though, winning a corner.

4:25PM

68 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Lindelof is late to a tackle and gives Tranmere a chance to get the ball in the box from a wide position. It's curled out but underhit and cleared at the near post.

Tranmere get another chance to work the ball around the final third but meet a wall of red shirts.

4:21PM

65 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

There's still half an hour of this to go. Maguire is subbed for Williams. That might be a change of shape to a 4-2-3-1, Williams wide left.

4:19PM

62 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Phil Jones knows he's in trouble as Ferrier runs away from him towards the box. The shot hits the sidenetting and Tranmere go back to singing their Tequila song after momentarily getting excited.

4:17PM

59 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

The Tranmere fans are getting the usual patrionising 'oh aren't they special' for cheering their team on, in that condescending pretend admiration way that politicians talk to humans. Those working class peasants, aren't they a wonderful breed for singing along, even though they're losing? How admirable. Yes I love it. No you can't stay in my house.

They've got a great wee song tbf, set to the tune of Tequila.

4:14PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!

Greenwood places it bottom corner.

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 6

Decent penalty, that might give him a bit of confidence to score another.

4:13PM

PENALTY!

Lingard and Greenwood link really well outside the area, Chong is played in behind the defence and the goalkeeper chops him down.

4:11PM

53 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 5

Blackett-Taylor wins his side a corner but Romero catches it unchallenged and starts the United counter. Lingard slows things down.

4:08PM

51 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 5

I rate Greenwood as a proper star in the making, convinced he'll be a prolific goalscorer in coming years. He sometimes seems to be a step ahead of teammates, making little passes that would send someone through on goal but seeing them roll towards the goalkeeper because the intended recipient hasn't made the right run.

4:05PM

48 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 5

Chong and Fred on at half time for Martial and Matic. OGS looking to avoid any injuries.

Chong almost scores! The Tranmere goalkeeper has to rush off his line to chase a horrible back pass and just gets there first ahead of the United youngster.

4:03PM

KICK OFF 2

We're back! Let's see what Tranmere can do.

3:54PM

What should Tranmere change?

Maguire needs to be stopped carrying the ball out from the back, the high press is a silly idea and leaving loads of space for United to attack, there is basically no right side of centre midfield and it's all really easy. I'd take Danns off - he's done absolutely nothing.

3:47PM

HALF TIME

Should we just go home now?

3:46PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

Oh dear. Martial has now scored the fifth.

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 5

It's a brilliant finish too - the goalkeeper has had no chance with of these efforts. This time Martial is allowed to shoot across goal from the left halfspace - the same place that United have been creating most of their chances.

3:45PM

43 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 4

3:42PM

42 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 4

Well this sucks for Tranmere fans.

3:41PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!

Make that four!

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 4

Phil Jones - PHIL JONES! - scores the fourth with a header at the back post from a corner. What a header it is too, that should not go unnoticed!

3:39PM

38 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

United might as well take Maguire and Martial off at half time, save their legs for future games. Tranmere could definitely score but three goals is too much.

3:35PM

35 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Martial wants a penalty by trying to past Clarke, bounced to the floor by a stronger defender who cuts across him. He doesn't get it but I've seen those given.

3:33PM

33 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

"STAY FOCUSED!" is the shout from the Tranmere bench. United's coaching staff are sat chilling out.

Tranmere growing into the game again after that initial flurry of goals but United defend calmly and Matic takes the ball out from the goalkeeper.

3:30PM

30 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Shaw is actually a really decent footballer. Has a great first touch, really fast, strong, likes to get forward... but there's something about him which means he isn't actually considered to be that great. Even though I think he's really good, I also... don't? Odd. Anyway, he's just carried the ball about 60 yards to the D and had a through ball blocked before Lingard could run onto it.

3:27PM

27 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Pereira fancies a shot from distance but doesn't hit it well and sends the ball into the stand behind the goal.

3:25PM

25 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Great buildup again from United who are able to keep the pressure up in Tranmere's half. It's a matter of time before the score increases but Tranmere are working really hard to shut things down and press high when there's a chance.

Dalot's just shown exactly where he needs to improve as Beckett-Taylor leans into him and easily spins round the outside to fire a cross into the box. Nobody anticipates to tap it in but that's a weakness identified in United's back line.

3:22PM

22 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Another attack but this time Lingard has to shoot across the ball and was always going to put it wide. Greenwood seems a little nervous/swallowed up by the big League One centre-backs he's up against. Could do with a goal for confidence.

3:19PM

19 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Maybe this game will be like when you play an awful team in Football Manager just to give your players a confidence boost. Martial has blasted over the bar from inside the box.

3:16PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

Wow. United are really turning it on here. Tranmere are sinking without hope!

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 3

Maguire drives the ball to the box, passes to Lingard and he takes a touch to set up the shot and places it in the bottom corner. So easy.

3:15PM

15 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 2

Introducing part 1 of 'The adventures of Phil Jones in Tranmere'.

3:13PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!

An absolute scorcher from Dalot! Brilliant goal!

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 2

That is absolutely brilliant. Lovely passing move, patient, then a one-two for Dalot, who chops inside and launches one into the bottom corner. Fantastic play.

3:13PM

13 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 1

Romero punches a corner clear, Dalot defend one v one really well on the wing and makes a tackle. United having to deal with a lot of aerial balls.

3:10PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!

OHHHH WHAT A HIT BY MAGUIRE!

Tranmere 0 Man Utd 1

Absolute rocket from Maguire! He takes the ball into the final third, cuts onto his right by the D and launches a rocket at the top corner which dips and swerves into the top corner.

3:08PM

8 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 0

Sir Alex is at Tranmere. Wonder what he makes of this United side. I wonder what he thinks about the pitch.

3:07PM

7 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 0

Morris intercepts a pass out from the back and takes on the United defence, twisting inside and hitting a tame effort at goal which is saved without trouble. The home crowd is right up for this one.

Greenwood tries to link a one-two with Martial but is muscled off the ball, Maguire strides into midfield to assist in a move as Martial shows quick feet to dribble past a couple of players... and Tranmere get the ball up the other end quickly.

Lindelog has to be careful not to foul Blackett-Taylor in the area, Jones gets a dunt in the shin making a tackle. He's having treatment from the physio now but is OK.

3:05PM

5 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 0

Jones is, as almost everyone expected would be the case at some point, already covered in mud. He's also been booked for hauling Ferrier to the floor in the final third, having given away a free-kick in a dangerous wide area. Romero catches the cross easily though.

3:03PM

3 mins - Tranmere 0 Man Utd 0

Red shirts pushing high up the pitch from the first whistle, pressing high. I can't emphasise enough how bad the pitch is. Lots of loose passes already, little bobbles. Ferrier dribbles into the box though, unperturbed by the mud, and wins a corner. The fans love it.

The ball comes in, headed away, Tranmere win the second ball and keep the move alive. Hooked in again, pin ball in the box and a SHOT! Saved by Romero! That could so easily have gone in.

3:01PM

KICK OFF

United start the game on a mostly brown pitch.

3:00PM

How the teams look

2:57PM

Here come the players

The stadium is packed, lots of noise, the home fans excited, the pitch in pieces. So much potential for mistakes and slips today.

2:44PM

Ducker on OGS

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Manchester United’s hierarchy to hold their nerve and give him the time he needs to stop the rot," writes James Ducker in this excellent piece about United's current managerial problems.

It's a confusing time at Old Trafford because while OGS is definitely not doing anything incredible, what else would another manager really bring to the team if appointed now? United need better players, not a new fangled tactical system.

OGS has referenced Liverpool's patient rebuild under Klopp as the reason to stick to the plan. I'm not sure how many United fans believe it's a similar situation.

2:18PM

The absolute state of this pitch

This could be brutal, or very funny. Possibly both.

2:16PM

United's shape

I think Solskjaer's got them in 3-4-3/5-2-3 today, which might be because that shape suits the players available or because he reckons that's the best system to beat a team in the relegation zone of League One.

It means they have width from wing-backs, big lads at the back to deal with hoof ball and set pieces and means they can break with Lingard, Martial and Greenwood, flanked by Shaw and Dalot. Would imagine that most of the play will come down the right wing with Dalot.

2:11PM

Tranmere lineup

Davies, Caprice, Monthe, Clarke, Ridehalgh, Morris, Danns, Perkins, Blackett-Taylor, Ferrier, Jennings.

2:08PM

Starting lineups

Man Utd:

Romero, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pereira, Lingard, Martial, Greenwood

1:50PM

A big day for Ole

Hello and welcome to our liveblog for Tranmere vs Manchester United, a match which is actually, weirdly, quite difficult to call. Will United go for a cup win? Is that Solskjaer's best way of gaining some credit from pundits and supporters? Or does he rest his key individuals and ensure he has fit players for the remainder of the league season?

Tranmere's pitch is completely gubbed but the club have taken action to try and have it repaired/playable for today's match, by putting a blanket over the grass and singing it lullabies.

Unfortunately for United, they aren't allowed to blame the pitch for not winning today.

"People get confused and think they've got to play on a different pitch. We'll play on the same pitch," Tranmere manager Micky Mellon - who apparently isn't a cartoon character - said yesterday.

"What if it's windy? What if it's hailstones? Good players can adapt and adjust to anything, that's what you expect of them.

"They know what the outcome has got to be and that's got to be trying to win a game of football and good players will find a way of doing that on any surface."

Despite clearly needing better players in to the club urgently, United still haven't completed any transfer business yet and we are likely to see some of their youngsters given a chance to shine today. Greenwood, Gomes and Chong could all feature.