Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay secured Manchester United a stunning third derby victory of the season as Ederson endured a dismal afternoon in the Manchester City goal.

Wayne Rooney offered 5,000 travelling supporters a reminder of former glories but, thanks in part to two goals from new striker Odion Ighalo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s current Manchester United side made another potentially significant step forward.

SO, it was Man United against lower league opposition in the Cup, and it was a six-goal winning margin to boot but, really, it was the mud what done it.

Barring any training ground mishaps, two boys in green can be expected to dominate attention in tomorrow night’s friendly against New Zealand at the Aviva.

Man United 1 Rochdale 1- Man United win 5-3 on penalties

Dublin selector Declan Darcy accepts the bubble the group have created will be “stress-tested” by the intensifying hype surrounding their achievements and perceived advantages.

Pat Fitzpatrick writes a letter to his kids about his parenting.

There are two definitions of ‘charisma’ in the dictionary - and while Jose Mourinho may prefer the description as a ‘divinely conferred power or talent’, we're sticking to the more traditional understanding of the word - a ‘compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others’.

It was an emotional night all round, featuring a newborn baby, a European record, the financial boost of another round, and Dundalk's Champions League dream living on after a see-saw penalty shoot-out.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Paul Pogba and any other wantaway players that Manchester United will not be pressured into selling.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara is heading out on loan for the seventh time in his Manchester United career.

Ireland U19 manager Tom Mohan believes his team can do the nation proud at next month’s Euros, despite losing a glut of players.

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has refused to rule out the prospect of returning to the club in a technical role.

Listen up guys, the word on the street is that beards are over and it’s time to grow a moustache. Pat Fitzpatrick asks the expert

Brendan O'Brien Column B

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed out-of-sorts David De Gea will not be dropped at Huddersfield, with deputy Sergio Romero injured.

The Southampton striker exploded into form this April, scoring four goals in five games to help the Saints' secure Premier League survival.

I GREW up on You are the Ref. The cartoon strip in Shoot (and later The Guardian) showed a tricky scenario on a soccer pitch, and asked you what decision the referee should make. The correct answer was provided at the end of the cartoon, by an actual referee.

Ger McCarthy looks at the three things we learned as Man City beat Man United 2-0.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has hit out at the players at his old club, saying there are "too many bluffers" at Old Trafford.

And in different circumstances, he believes Roy Keane could have been the man to shape that philosophy.

Spring is in the air. The cold hand of the previous year’s winter, which resulted in heavy snow and fixture cancellations as late as March was conspicuous by its absence but as April begins no one is taking the warm weather for granted just yet.

The draw threw up some fascinating ties...

While most Gooners would’ve bitten your hand off for a draw in advance of last week’s encounter, there was no escaping the huge sense of disappointment, coming away from Wembley, having failed to capitalise on such a prime opportunity to silence our increasingly noisy neighbours.

Hey, remember in the old days when the catastrophists were warning that VAR would be the Y2K of football, not just ruining the game as a spectacle but worse — far, far worse — doing away with all those ‘talking points’ so beloved of pundits, whether in a studio or on a bar stool?

Romelu Lukaku's brace sealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United a thrilling comeback win against struggling Southampton on an afternoon of exceptional goals.

As Cork City prepare to host Waterford in the first Munster derby of the new season, club legend Derek Coughlan squares up to critics of the domestic game

“It probably was one of the hardest games I have played in.”

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino accepts that his club’s extended stay at Wembley has affected the team.

A childhood supporting Manchester United, a scrum of family and friends wanting tickets and a rather bizarre superstition about a lucky toilet are combining to make today’s trip to Old Trafford a significant one for Brighton’s Shane Duffy.

Every now and then there comes a match which not only has the potential to define a season but also possesses the power to force a seismic change in the football tide; and Liverpool’s visit to the Etihad tonight is one such game.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s magical reign as Manchester United boss survived its biggest test to date at St James’ Park last night, his second- half substitute Romelu Lukaku scoring with his first touch of the game and helping to write his interim manager into the record books.

Daniel Storey on the big takeaways from the weekend's action...

Since Jose Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United boss on Tuesday the search has begun for the club's next permanent manager.

Reports yesterday suggest sacking Jose Mourinho is likely to cost Manchester United £24m (€26.8m) in a pay-out to the Portuguese native, which will soften the blow in his household this Christmas at least.

What’s bugging Mo Salah? asks Liam Mackey.

For once, in his post-match comments on Saturday, José didn’t dissemble, and he spoke for what was in all our hearts. We all knew we’d robbed the Cherries blind - but we felt it was the cosmic karmic balancing for our own last-gasp mugging at Stamford Bridge two weeks back. Somewhere in the back of mind chirped the old cliché “these things even out over a season”.

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reckons the players at Jose Mourinho’s disposal at Manchester United are the best in the Premier League – and that the Portuguese will win major silverware again.