Victory over a League Two side comes nowhere near to banishing the horror memories of the derby but this was something of a start for Manchester United.
Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia were all on target for the Reds.
Aldershot Town’s club crest bears a phoenix to symbolize the rise from the ashes of bankruptcy in 1992 when they reformed in the Isthmian League Division Three.
United’s challenge isn’t quite so dramatic as fighting back from being penniless and being kicked out of the Football League but after the shocking 6-1 defeat to City last Sunday it was the first tentative steps back from the ashes of the derby disaster.
Not that the Reds team for the Recreation Ground fixture bore any resemblance to the XI humiliatingly turned over at Old Trafford two days earlier.
Only Phil Jones who suffered as a second half sub for 24 minutes against the Blues carried any mental bruising from that hammering.
The days when humbled players were ordered right back into the action to exorcise their demons and offer up an apology of sorts are long gone.
But the Reds needed a defeat against a League Two side like a hole in the head after the fallout from City’s annihilation.
United’s last visit to the Rec for a competitive match was back in 1970 when the Holy Trinity of Best, Law and Charlton were on Wilf McGuinness’s League Cup second round team sheet and not as a punishment either.
United were 1-0 down after 20 minutes that night and such has been the shock that has rocked Old Trafford since Sunday even these players probably couldn’t afford that early setback to the system.
Neither could Nemanja Vidic afford another tortuous match after the nightmare start to this campaign.
It all seems a long time ago since those happy pictures from last May when he was raising his first piece of silverware as United captain.
He’s been the picture of abject misery since lifting the Premier League trophy.
Hobbling off at West Brom. Missing a penalty for Serbia as his country crashed out of Euro 2012. Sent off against Otelul Galati in Bucharest and then overlooked for the derby.
Amid reports that he was on duty at Aldershot and missed the derby as punishment for playing for Serbia before he’d returned from injury with the Reds - this was almost another bad day for Vidic.
In the ninth minute his rustiness was evident as Alex Rodman sped past him easily and the skipper was forced into a clumsy rescuing foul that earned him a yellow card.
Another few yards forward and if he’d been last man and his evening could have been over.
Steadied
But after that scare he steadied and United too never looked in too much danger again.
Unlike the 1970 Reds Dimitar Berbatov ensured Fergie’s side wouldn’t have to go through the same nervous challenge of a comeback.
The Bulgarian does not give off the demeanour of a player who the squaddies in this army town would say they’d want alongside them in the trenches.
But the striker has got an admirable fighting spirit in some ways they way he seemingly has accepted his fall from grace at Old Trafford and has set about attempting to claw his way back to respectability.
Last season’s top scorer has barely had a chance this season but took the opportunity to suggest to Fergie that if those who’d failed against City were really in jeopardy of losing their places then he’s ready to accept his chance for redemption.
Ji-sung Park and Tom Cleverley’s swift inter-change set up the Bulgarian for his first goal since last April.
Aldershot’s fans immediately came up with the clever and cutting riposte that they’d still win this one 6-1!
Gratefully that was never a serious worry.
Like Berbatov Owen might have a glimmer of hope that in the aftermath of the derby there could be places up for grabs.
He’s using this Carling Cup to beef up impressive goals stats from rare starts.
After scoring two at Leeds in round three he put United in the comfort zone last night with the second.
He and Berbatov combined for a sweeping one-two in the 41st minute and the former swept in his third of the League Cup run.
Antonio Valencia smashed in a third as United strolled into the fifth round draw and the formalities of the finale were brightened up by an eye-catching combination of party-tricks and hard work from Mancunian Ravel Morrison.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
Aldershot 0 Manchester United 3: Stuart Mathieson's verdict
October 25, 2011
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CLEAN SHEET!!!!!!!
Berbatov should start on Saturday. Cleverley should be a part of the team, at least on the bench.
Morrison = Future star. Almost too arrogant, but I like it!
Professional performance - unlike Sunday - well done lads.
and player of the game is .... Chicharito
Great to se Cleverley back. Good to see Berbatov looking up for it - and Morrison really looks the business! Cleverly, Pogba, Morrison - could be our midfield for a good few years to come...
Great bounce back tonight,Massive!! Thank fully we are over the drubbing now.
I see you gave Aldershot a footballing lesson tonight.
Pogba and Morrison are truly the future of our central midfield.
Some great runs and dribbling from Morrison plus his trickery and flair when passing was a joy to watch and he looks perfectly comfortable on both feet a shame he didn't score right at the end after that surging run when he went past three players but they got a block in to deny his strike.
Pogba great turns and great athleticism plus his cross field passes are stunning which will be vital for our future as our team plays with width.
Berbatov MOTM for me a tireless performance he was everywhere and he truly is a joy to watch with his touches and effortless play.
Great goal by Tony V and its damn good to see Cleverly back!
United till I Die!
First thoughts.
1. Nowt wrong with young Amos
2. Berba must start on Saturday. Sky gave Owen MOM but I thought Berba had the touch we could have done with against City.Put Rooney in midfield with Chico feeding off Berba.
3. For Saturday,Tom,Tony V.and Jones must play,along side Vidic in defence.
4. Vidic still looks a bit rusty but he is getting there.
5.Park was adequate.
6.Young lad at left back looks a good prospect.
7.Not sure about Diouf and Pogba
8. There wasn't much to beat but look at the effort of the nouveau Berba. He put in a shift.
9.Tony V. looked more like his old self.
10.Owen should be used more often as an impact sub. He always scores!
united win...belfast anddublin will be a bit better tonight than sunday then....6-1 hahahahaha
Regardless of tonight's result and no disrespect to United, the opposition or the Carling Cup in which they are competing but it is a mere diversion. The significance of last weekend will continue to overshadow proceedings for some time yet and its repercussions for considerably longer. The writing was on the wall long before Sundays demolition derby. Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan could have placed his fortune into any premier league club that took his fancy - lets say Bolton for instance. Bolton, like City would have risen overnight from relative mid-table obscurity to the richest club in world football. Winning a trophy for the first time in many years and qualifying for the champions league - at the same time attracting the very best footballers from every corner of the globe, can you imagine - Silva, Nasri and Aguero at the Reebok! Sounds ridiculous but what's the difference - Reebok, Eastlands?
These footballing mercenaries would have no more interest in playing for Bolton any more than they would for City - why would they? neither team have any pedigree on the World or even European stage. However, when the carrot is dangled to the extent that it is at Eastlands, suddenly it doesn't seem such a bad idea - if your employer is willing to pay you £200k+ a week, even if it means warming the bench - who cares about pedigree.
The truth is that City will comfortably win the Premier League this year and indeed will win it every year from now on - and then the Champions League will similarly become a formality, a one horse race in all competitions - and in the unlikely event of this not happening, they will probably bring in Messi and Ronaldo 400k a week each, sounds like good business - this should do the trick? or perhaps another agent driven high profile mercenary lurking in the shadows to make sure it does happen.
Sadly, this will be the future - second prize will be the best any opposition can hope for from now on.
Yes, the clock is indeed ticking - not just for United but for football itself.
Ha, so much for my make them all play at Aldershot - not a single one did.
Bring on bitters in the quater final! if they will win against WOLVES. which i don think they will they played they cup final against current English CHAMPIONS.
After the debacle of Sunday’s defeat this stroll in the park encounter with Aldershot was probably just what we needed, and a comfortable win ensured that we could now look forward to the next round.
I must say though, that I expected some slightly better performances from several of our first team squad players who were on view, especially with our important game against Everton on the radar. This was the chance to impress SAF with a display that could win them a starting place on Saturday. Will their efforts have convinced our manager that they are ready to step up?
Decent performances were contributed by Jones, Owen and Berbatov with Valencia getting a much-needed ninety minutes in his favoured position. Another factor on the plus side was Cleverley getting a good run out. Pogba continues to impress me, and I can see him starting in the first team in the not too distant future.
The form of Nemanja continues to worry me; he really does appear to be a wee bit off the pace. However, he is a great player and with another game now under his belt I fully expect to see him leading us out at Goodison Park.
To summarise - a cautious step forward to putting us back on track after our “unreal” weekend derailment!
United ‘til I die!
A very proffesional performance from the lads. Against a poor granted, but proffesional no the less. There were alot of real plus points tonight.
1) We scored 3 great goals
2) We kept a clean sheet
3) Vidic & Jones should be our new CB pairing
4) The return of the classy Tom Cleverley
5) A brilliant performance and shift from Berbatov
6) Another goal from Owen
7) A brilliant cameo from the brilliant Paul Pogba
8) A brilliant performance from the exciting Ravel Morrison. What a player he can become.
9) Fryers looked good at left back
10) Valencia played pretty well
So alot to be happy about tonight. If we complete the healing process against Everton on Saturday with a win then we are right back on track after a very poor result on Sunday.
The team i want to see on Saturday would be....
De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Jones, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Hernandez
Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Valencia, Carrick, Morrison, Berbatov, Welbeck
morrison looked good and is the future-cost not a penny, cleverley too.pogba add him to those and we have three fantastic players who once they get some experience will be the future of united.morrison is the BEST YOUNGSTER IVE SEEN AT UNITED INCLUDING GIGGS, BECKHAM,SCHOLES AND A YOUNG ROONEY.HES SUPERB AND HAS MORE TO GREAT VISION,AWESOME SKILL AND SCORES GOALS FROM 2 YARDS OR 32 YARDS-WATCH HIM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE
Great performance tonight, much needed and will give the club a huge lift going forward. Make no mistake, Aldershot are top draw, especially at home.
That win has made a statement to everybody, back to the big time
Mas vale poco que nada.
how can you not play Berbatov? true the opposition was weak, but this guy oozes talent. not a great goal scorer, but the ball skills are second to none at OT. and without Fletcher we were going towards the other team's goal. get tough on yourself and the rest of last week's squad, Fergie. get Anderson fit, get Nani parting with the ball, try Evra in midfield, with one of the twins or a lefty at full back, get Valencia taking on the defenders again, and settle Jones, Smalling and Cleverley into one position preferably in the middle of the field. give Evans one last try in midfield, he's not a central defender, or maybe try him at left back. Lind should be the number one keeper. play Hernandez in preference to Wellbeck for now. let Rooney play till he drops, no rest for the wicked.Train these guys to play. Mancini has done it. The players are no better than ours, but right now the team is and that's down to the manager and the trainers.
vidic and jones were very efficient and although not always comfortable. no Fletcher in the middle no problem. first time I watched Pogba and was not thrilled.
cleverley and morrison should be picked ahead of Fletch in the EPL games for sure.
praying SAF does not play Fletch against Everton.
Berbatov ! Berbatov !
YAYYYYY!!!! CLEVERLEY IS BACK!!!! PRAISE THE GOOD LORD!!!!
Bounced back pmsl,where as we bounced you all over trafford on sunday....lease ,bittermouth,rambling rag, i am god..i dont know whos the bitterest out of you lot its SIX of ONE,half a dozen of the other.....
It is a good result.. We need Berbatov and Vidic start against Everton...
3-0 against aldershot is not even a hint of a recovery
owen has to be first choice alongside rooney up front. Welbeck not good enough, send out on loan for another year.
vidic and jones at the back. cleverly in midefield,
evans, fletcher, giggs, rio and andersen not good enough, time to go.
probably will need sneider in the jan transfer window after all.
Cleverley, as I'm sure others will point out, is a great first-time passer. He knows where a player is bedoee he gets the ball nd prods and passes forward. The pass for the first goal was great and I'm not sure who floated the pass to Berbatov for the second. Cleverley's play definitely brings a spark to United's midfield that the forwards thrive on.
Berbatov was hungry last night.
It was great to see.