A late chance for Revell to grab a second, but he slips at the crucial moment and he cannot direct his left-footed strike.
90' +2
A cross from Potter is cleared to Rashford who holds the ball in the corner, before feeding Rooney. His teasing ball almost finds Ibrahimovic, but Smith is able to gather the ball.
90' +1
Northampton win a late corner as Rooney charges down Buchanan's cross. But Taylor's cross is cleared, denying the Cobblers a late consolation.
90'
United are content to keep the ball now through Young, Rojo and Ibrahimovic, but the ball goes out for a goal-kick. We have three minutes of stoppage time.
89'
A. Potter gets yellow.
The result is a bit of a mess as Herrera cannot control Rooney's pass to him. But Potter then needlessly hacks down Rooney as he attemps to cross, so the United skipper can try again.
Potter was booked for that lunge on Rooney.
88'
United have a free-kick in a promising position as O'Toole brings down Herrera as he attempts to turn inside.
86'
Alfie Potter collects the ball on the left touchline, dances past a couple of United challenges, and fires at goal, but his effort is deflected and loops harmlessly into the air for Romero to catch.
85'
United are now just knocking the ball around in their own half, with Northampton's tired bodies struggling to close them down. With just five minutes to play, it looks like United will be in the hat for the fourth round.
83'
Some more bright and direct running from Hoskins ends with a shot, but with the wideman off balance, it doesn't trouble Romero and sails wide.
82'
Some more Northampton pressure as Hoskins feeds Moloney to cross into the area, but Blind is able to head the ball away.
Minute
Description
81'
United are forced into some defending as Taylor's excellent, curling cross lands around the penalty spot, forcing Smalling to head behind for a corner. Unfortunately for the home side, they cannot make anything of it.
80'
Another underhit backpass, but this time on the United side, as Young's pass back to Romero sees the Argentinian stopper rush to boot to safety.
79'
An aimless ball forward from the Northampton defence goes straight through to Romero. With just over ten minutes to go, it looks like Northampton's hopes of progressing further in this competition are being extinguished.
77'
Ibrahimovic almost wins the ball from Diamond's toe, and is convinced he should have a free-kick as the Northampton defender attempts to recover the ball, but nothing is given.
76'
More tired defending from Northamptom almost leads to Ibrahimovic running clear, but they are able to recover.
75'
M. Rashford has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Ander Herrera.
Herrera will get the assist, but it was Smith's mistake and Rashford's perseverence which led to the goal.
GOOOOOOOAL FOR UNITED! An absolute howler from Northampton keeper Adam Smith gifts Marcus Rashford a goal and surely Manchester United's winner. Herrera lumped the ball forward, clearing from a Northampton corner, with Rashford deciding to chase the ball down. It looked a straightforward clearance for Smith, but he misjudged the flight of the ball and hacked at fresh air, allowing Rashford to calmly round him and thrash into an empty net. Surely game over.
74'
D. Blind gets yellow.
Hoskins once again gives Blind all sorts of problems, beating him for pace and forcing the Dutch defender to trip him and receive a yellow card.
73'
M. Richards enters the game and replaces J. McCourt.
M. Fellaini enters the game and replaces M. Schneiderlin.
Jose Mourinho keen to see his side hold onto their lead, withdrawing Morgan Schneiderlin for Marouane Fellaini.
Final change for Northampton sees midfielder Jak McCourt make way for veteran striker Marc Richards.
71'
Good play between Rooney and Rashford almost carves out an opportunity, but Northampton scramble to safety.
70'
Can the Cobblers respond, as they did in the first half? They've been non-existent as an attacking force in this period, sitting deep and trying to frustrate their visitors, but can they now commit bodies forward and find a way back into the game?
68'
Ander Herrera has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by M. Rashford.
Marcus Rashford teed up Herrera, and he's looked bright since his introduction.
GOOOOOOAAAAL FOR UNITED! It's 2-1 to the visitors, and it's all thanks to a thunderous strike from Ander Herrera. This will be controversial too, as McCourt seemed to be caught by Schneiderlin in the build-up, but it's no matter to the visitors. Rashford, who got his head up in the area, and found Herrera, should take plenty of credit. But Herrera will take the plaudits for his first-time powered drive from outside the area which left Smith grasping at fresh air. Can United hang on to this lead with 20 minutes to play?
66'
A. Potter enters the game and replaces K. Gorré.
Kenji Gorré , often Northampton's most dangerous attacking outlet, is replaced by Alfie Potter.
A really poor pass from Schneiderlin under no pressure at all is too heavy for Herrera and Northampton win a throw-in.
64'
A Herrera pass finds Rooney on the left hand corner of the penalty area, who exchanges passes with Young and curls in a teasing ball towards Ibrahimovic. Smith though is equal to it, and palms the ball away.
63'
Young, who has shaken off that knock, drives past Buchanan, but his cross is too close to Smith who catches the ball.
62'
Rashford drifts a cross into the area towards Ibrahimovic, whose presence seems to disturb Smith, leaving him to flap at the ball and punch away weakly.
There's a hearty cheer from the crowd as Diamond gets to a loose ball ahead of Ibrahimovic, before O'Toole mops up and helps Northampton retain possession.
61'
There is a break in play as Young receives treatment. Rashford has taken Depay's role on the left flank, and Ibrahimovic is now leading the line, with Rooney in a slightly more withdrawn forward position.
60'
United think they should have a free-kick when Young is felled by Gorre, but the referee is unmoved.
58'
CLOSE! United almost take the lead, out of nowhere through a thundering drive from Herrera. Northampton stood off the Spanish midfielder, so, with little on for him, he decides to strike it from 25 yards out, only to see his drive clatter back off the post with Smith beaten.
57'
Jose Mourinho clearly doesn't fancy hanging about for extra time, and replaces a winger and full-back with his two most potent forwards in Rashford and Ibrahimovic. Will Northampton be able to deal with them, and even hit United on the counter, with their limited defensive numbers?
Buchanan's lofted pass almost finds Hoskins, who has once again escaped Blind's attentions, but he cannot control and it goes behind.
55'
Z. Ibrahimović enters the game and replaces M. Depay.
M. Rashford enters the game and replaces T. Fosu-Mensah.
Mourinho has seen enough of his makeshift side and introduces his main attacking weapons. The first change seems Zlatan Ibrahimovic replace Memphis Depay.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also withdrawn for Marcus Rashford.
54'
J. O'Toole enters the game and replaces H. Beautyman.
The first substitution of the game sees Harry Beautyman replaced by crowd favourite John-Joe O'Toole.
53'
United's build-up play, though patient, is quite slow, and Rooney is frequently dropping deep to join in. That's leaving the away side without a focal point in attack, which means attacks are frequently fizzling out. Another attempted pass is blocked and United have a corner.
52'
More intricate build-up play between Rooney and Carrick, before the veteran United midfielder's pass attempts to find Depay, but it is overhit and Northampton can breathe again.
51'
The resultant corner comes to Carrick in space at the far post, but his low pass back into the box is cleared to safety by Northampton. Can they withstand this United pressure at the beginning of the second half?
50'
United are building well here. A Herrera cross is blocked. Young then has a go, but his deep, swirling effort is spilled behind by Smith.
48'
Tricky running from Depay tees up Schneiderlin on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked. It rebounds to Depay, but his effort is easily caught by Smith.
A bit of miscommunication there between Herrera and Fosu-Mensah, as the Spanish midfielder lays the ball off expecting a forward run from the young United full-back, but he had stopped dead in his tracks. The result is a Northampton goal-kick.
47'
J. McCourt gets yellow.
McCourt receives the first caution of the game for a late challenge on Depay.
45' +1
Again, United are in possession, but are playing infront of an extremely deep Northampton backline and are unable to break through.
45'
Straight down the other end and Young almost feeds Rooney, but Smith races off his line and smothers at the United captain's feet.
Northampton kick-off and we're underway in the second period...
The players are back on the pitch and we're almost underway in the second half.
Hard running from Gorre hastens Romero's clearance and it is almost skewed into touch. The home side look full of purpose at the beginning of this half.
44'
The home support, energised by that unlikely equaliser, are now in full voice. Northampton half-appeal for another penalty as Taylor runs onto a hopeful long ball into the area and meets Romero, trying to punch the ball, who does win it but clatters Taylor in the process.
42'
Penalty goal scored by A. Revell for Northampton Town!
GOOOOOOOOAL FOR NORTHAMPTON! Alex Revell calmly steps up and slots it to Romero's left as the keeper dives the other way. Incredibly, Northampton are back level after spending most of the game so far penned into their own half. But, hard work from Taylor and Hoskins forced the error from Blind, and veteran Revell grabbed the opportunity to get the League One side a foothold in this tie. Game on!
41'
PENALTY TO NORTHAMPTON! The pressure tells on United and they gave away a really poor penalty. Hoskins again, a ball of industry throughout the first period, is felled by Blind in the area and the Cobblers have a wonderful chance to equalise...
40'
Hoskins almost takes advantage of a comedic mix-up between Romero and his centre-backs, as he runs onto a forward ball and almost pinches it from the United goalkeeper's toe as he and his defenders try to decide who should clear the ball. This is, by far, Northampton's best spell of the half.
38'
Another deep corner from Taylor, clearly a strategy from the home side, finds a towering back-post header, but it loops harmlessly over Romero's crossbar.
37'
A fantastic first-time pass from the back from Diamond finds Gorre, but he dallies on the ball and his low cross is easily cleared by Smalling. Gorre has been Northampton's main outlet this half, but his final delivery has so far yet to be up to scratch.
CLOSE FOR NORTHAMPTON! Much, much better play from Gorre creates Northampton's first clear opportunity of the game. He finds himself in rare space inside Fosu-Mensah, and his quick feet find him in the penalty area, only for his fierce drive to be tipped onto the bar somehow by a static Romero. That's the home side's best opening of the half so far.
35'
Good defending from Moloney and Hoskins deny Depay a crossing opportunity, and they are able to clear to Revell. But, despite the big forward's best efforts to repel three United defenders, he is unable to wriggle free and United clear easily. Revell is working extremely hard but frequently finds himself isolated as Northampton's lone striker.
33'
Rooney makes a run in behind Northampton's defence to receive Blind's pass to the left of the goal, but he struggles to keep the ball in play, and his attempted left-footed cross skews over the bar, much to the amusement of the home support.
31'
Northampton break forward with pace through Gorre in a fare venture forward, but the winger selfishly opts to shoot when Buchanan looked better placed to his left to receive a pass. His shot is off target and United are off the hook.
30'
Rooney is increasingly drifting deep in order to win possession, but then United find they lack a central target to find in the box.
DISALLOWED! A delightfully weighted ball from Schneiderlin finds Fosu-Mensah's head as he runs into the box, but his effort slams against Smith's bar. The rebound falls to Rooney, who gratefully taps in, but he is denied a goal as the offside flag goes up.
29'
After some early uncertainty, Northampton are looking much more assured at the back, although they are sat extremely deep when United attack. A strong Moloney challenge sees off another United move.
27'
More patient play sees United build to the Northampton area, but Herrera and Depay cannot combine to create an opportunity.
Some smart interplay between Carrick and Rooney, who dropped deep for the one-two, ends when Carrick mishits his pass through for Rojo and it goes behind for a goal-kick.
25'
Revell has been really isolated so far as a lone forward, but he manages to win a flick-on and help pin United near their own corner flag. Hoskins' tenacity again winers a corner. Taylor takes, again to the far post, but Revell cannot manufacture a chance and he volleys over the bar.
23'
This will not go down as one of Matthew Taylor's best performances in a long career. This time he mishits a clearance and slices it straight into touch. From the subsequent throw in, Fosu-Mensah's cross is easily gathered by Smith.
22'
A long angled ball from Herrera attemps to find the forward dash of Fosu-Mensah, but it is overhit and goes behind for a goal-kick to Northampton.
21'
The tempo of the game has dropped somewhat since Carrick's opener, with United content to retain possession and take the sting from Northampton's response. Carrick and Schneiderlin are dictating the pace of the game so far.
19'
It's not the fairytale start that Cobblers fans will have wanted, but it's just rewards for a confident United start. Northampton immediately respond positively though, Moloney winning the ball high up the field and curling a cross into the area, but United head it to safety.
Gorre, who has been quiet so far, finds half a yard of space on the left flank, but his cross is wayward and United have a goal-kick.
17'
M. Carrick has scored a goal for Manchester United!
GOAAAAAAAL FOR MANCHESTER UNITED! Michael Carrick's beautiful finish keeps the visitors an early and deserved lead. It will be couched in some controversy, coming from the award of an indirect free-kick. Depay tees up Rooney, whose low drive is blocked, only as far as Carrick on the edge of the area, who caresses the ball into the top corner beyond a flailing Smith.
15'
A rare sight, as Taylor's pass back to his goalkeeper is adjudged a deliberate backpass, so Manchester United have an indirect free-kick inside the Northampton area. It will be interesting to see how they approach this.
14'
A well-directed long Carrick pass again finds Rojo, who keeps finding himself beyond the exposed Moloney, but his first-time cross evades everyone waiting in the Northampton area.
13'
CLOSE! More patient United build-up play almost leads to the opener. This time Herrera feeds Rojo, who is getting forward plenty early on from his left-back position, only for his fierce low cross to be just beyond the diving Rooney.
11'
A poor pass by Taylor finds Young in space on the edge of the Northampton area, but his first cross is blocked. He tries again, but it sails over Rooney's head to safety.
10'
Taylor's inswinging corner almost finds Diamond at the back post, but it is scrambled clear by United. A first foray forward by the hosts.
9'
Matthew Taylor, something of a free-kick specialist, curls in his first of the evening, but it is easily cleared by Fosu-Mensah. Hoskins' persistence forces Rojo to concede a corner, much to the enjoyment of Cobblers supporters.
8'
The early pattern of this game is apparent, with United dominating the ball and probing to find their way through a deep Northampton defence. Blind's chipped long ball is too heavy and goes behind for a goal-kick.
6'
CHANCE FOR ROONEY! A sitter by the United captain. Depay, who caused Moloney all sorts of trouble in these early stages, weaves his way past him and finds Carrick on the edge of the area. His shot rebounds to Young, whose pass across the face of goal leaves Rooney with a gaping net, but his effort skews wide. A real let-off for Northampton.
4'
United are exploiting some lax defending by Northampton on the edge of their area, this time Young drifts out of the area, but his chipped pass runs through to Smith.
3'
Northampton's first contribution is a long ball upfield from a free-kick which is easily gathered by Romero.
2'
A very bright start by the visitors. Herrera finds space 25 yards out, but his effort is blocked and goes behind for a corner.
1'
Wayne Rooney kicks-off and we're underway...
Manchester United, in their changed away strip of white shirts, blue shorts and white socks, are in early possession of the ball, and win a throw-in high in Northampton territory. It comes to Rojo, who fires an early ball into the area, but it flies over Rooney's head and to safety.
An early chance for Rooney! Back in his familiar striking role, Rooney is teed up by Depay, who plucked a long ball smartly out of the sky, laid it off to his captain, only for Rooney's low drive to be smothered by Adam Smith.
Hello and welcome to the live text commentary of this evening’s third round League Cup clash between Northampton Town and Manchester United from the Sixfields Stadium. United’s recent slump has made this a must-win fixture for Jose Mourinho, keen to bounce back from three consecutive defeats and restore some much-needed confidence to his beleaguered troops. Defeat to their League One opponents would be a huge embarrassment. Northampton meanwhile have nothing to lose, and will be hoping to spring an upset.
Northampton go into tonight’s game on the back of a weekend defeat to Chesterfield, which saw their remarkable 31-game league unbeaten run come to a halt. Boss Rob Page says his side will do their best to cause an upset, and they’re certainly a side in the winning habit, having romped to the League Two title last season and started this campaign strongly, currently sitting in 11th place. They’ve already claimed the scalps of Barnsley and West Brom in this year’s League Cup, and last time they got to this stage in 2010, they were victors over Liverpool on penalties. Much will depend on Alex Revell, their summer signing who already has four goals to his name this campaign.
This tie looked relatively straightforward for United when it was drawn last month, but events of the last week have made it look far tougher. Defeats to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford on Sunday mean defeat simply isn’t an option for Jose Mourinho’s men. A host of star players, most notably captain Wayne Rooney, came in for stinging criticism from some quarters for their below-par performance against Watford, so it will be fascinating to see how they respond against their League One opponents.
The Cobblers have never beaten Manchester United, and this is their first ever meeting in this competition. They’ve played each other twice in the FA Cup, in 1970 and 2004, with United emerging victorious 8-2 and 3-0 respectively.
TEAM NEWS: Jose Mourinho makes nine changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Watford, with Wayne Rooney and Chris Smalling the only survivors. Rooney will begin the game from his traditional centre-forward position, supported by Ashley Young and Memphis Depay from the flanks. Rashford and Ibrahimovic are on the bench if a goal is needed.
We're around 15 minutes away from kick-off at Sixfields in this much anticipated League Cup clash.
It’s anticipated that Mourinho will hand starts to some fringe or young players, but will recent results change his mind? United have been beaten by lower league opposition in this competition in each of the last two seasons, and memories of their embarrassing 4-0 capitulation to MK Dons in 2014 will still be raw for their supporters.
Northampton also make two changes from the side beaten 3-1 by Chesterfield, with Sam Hoskins and Gabriel Zakuani replacing Paul Anderson and Lewin Nyatanga. Veteran Matthew Taylor, formerly of Portsmouth, West Ham and Burnley, is a familiar face in a team full of lower league experience.
We're just a few minutes away from kick-off and excitement is building inside the stadium, with the home support eager to see their side cause a mighty upset against Manchester United. The players will be out of the tunnel shortly.
The players are on the pitch and we're almost ready to get started.
The half-time whistle blows and Alex Revell's penalty cancels out Michael Carrick's opener here at Sixfields to leave this League Cup tie between Northampton and Manchester United delicately poised at 1-1.
For so much of that half, United are in control, creating chances and taking a well-deserved opener through Carrick. But as the game edged towards half-time, the Cobblers grew into the contest, with Hoskins and Gorre causing problems with their direct running. Hoskins forced Blind to concede a penalty, which Revell duly converted to give the League One side a real chance of causing a huge upset.
Many issues for Mourinho to ponder, foremost whether to withdraw his captain Rooney or bring him back into a midfield position and introduce either Rashford or Ibrahimovic. We'll be back in around 15 minutes for the second half.
The final whistle blows and Manchester United are through to the fourth round of the League Cup after a 3-1 win away at Northampton Town.
It was a creditable display from the hosts, but Mourinho will be relieved that second half goals from Herrera and Rashford end his side's three-game losing streak. United unquestionably deserved their victory, dominating possession and play barring a shaky five minutes before half-time, when Revell's penalty squared the game for the hosts.
Rashford's introduction in the second period was once again key, and United now progress in the competition and keep alive the possibility of domestic silverware in Jose Mourinho's first season at the club.
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