Jesse Lingard again came up with the goods and Romelu Lukaku was also on target as Manchester United left it late to seal a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Derby County.
England midfielder Lingard let fly from outside the area with six minutes remaining for his fifth goal in his past six outings to break the resistance of the spirited Rams.
It was a huge relief for a United side that appeared destined for a frustrating third-round replay having wasted a glut of chances, and Lukaku made sure of the win in the closing stages.
Marcus Rashford was the guiltiest party in the first half with a poor point-blank header that he tamely nodded against the post.
The England forward was unlucky to see another effort crash against the woodwork in the second half, while Paul Pogba was also profligate.
Lingard and Lukaku spared the home side’s blushes, but questions will remain over United’s ability to get over the line in games, with the 2-0 win over Everton last time out ending a run of four matches without a victory – including a shock 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za