Carling Cup round-up: United bounce back at Aldershot

An entirely different starting XI to the side thrashed 6-1 on Sunday by Manchester City made sure there was no hangover thanks to Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia’s first goals of the season and another competition strike from Michael Owen.

Aldershot tried their best to bridge the gulf in class between npower League Two also-rans and the Barclays Premier League champions, but they failed until late on to seriously test a rearguard that had looked vulnerable in the extreme in recent weeks.

United arrived in Aldershot to witness a town buzzing for the club’s biggest game since they reformed in 1992 following the demise of Aldershot FC, and one of the biggest since the latter hosted a star-studded United team in the same competition 41 years earlier.

Their 7,300-capacity ground was full to bursting and the home fans arrived hoping to see one of the biggest shocks in League Cup history against a side who had never lost to a club from the fourth tier of English football.

United soon took charge and Tom Cleverley, back after six weeks out with a foot injury, curled over the bar from 20 yards.

Returning captain Nemanja Vidic was booked for felling Alex Rodman in the 10th minute but that was a false dawn for the home side as the visitors showcased their superior class five minutes later.

Park Ji-sung played a one-two with Cleverley on the edge of the box before finding Dimitar Berbatov, who passed the lay-off into the net.

Aldershot almost levelled through a superb solo effort from the dangerous Jermaine McGlashan, who ran at the heart of United’s defence before unleashing a rising drive that just cleared the crossbar.

In the 41st minute United immediately broke down the right with Berbatov squaring for Owen, whose shot straight down the middle managed to beat Ross Worner for his third goal in two League Cup ties this season.

The contest was over as United scored with the first attack of the second-half, a 20-yard Antonio Valencia piledriver leaving Worner clutching air.

Aldershot introduced Jamie Collins for Peter Vincenti, while their fans continued to give as good as they got in the banter stakes with the small pocket of United supporters.

With 10 minutes remaining, Worner produced arguably the only world-class moment of Aldershot’s night with a sensational save from Berbatov’s 20-yard free-kick.

Adam Smith came on for Rankine and a late rally saw Guttridge drill inches wide and force a brilliant stop from Amos with a curling free-kick before Valencia blazed over when clean through on the break.

Arsenal showed fighting spirit to come from behind and beat Bolton 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Owen Coyle’s Trotters had led through former Gunner Fabrice Muamba early in the second half but Andrey Arshavin levelled and Park Ju-young completed the turnaround with the winner. Joe Mason’s 40th-minute strike earned Cardiff a 1-0 win at home to their fellow npower Championship side Burnley.

The night’s other match saw Crystal Palace beat Southampton 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

The game was headed for extra-time until Darren Ambrose (73) edged the Eagles in front and Jermaine Easter’s 82nd-minute penalty edged them further ahead.