United back to winning ways

MANCHESTER UNITED avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup fourth round clash at Aldershot, winning 3-0.

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 Premier League champions, but they failed until late on to seriously test a rearguard that had looked vulnerable in the extreme in recent weeks.

Owen admitted the win was all the more important after the “kick in the teeth” dished out by City.

Asked if there was added pressure following Sunday’s result, Owen said: “I suppose so. We were a little bit under pressure with the result at the weekend.

“Although no-one here started at the weekend you still have Manchester United’s reputation to look after. So whatever side was put out we wanted to bounce back and thankfully we got the win.

“As you can imagine the laughs and jokes have quietened down a little bit (since Sunday).

“Sometimes you need a kick in the teeth to get going and it was a big kick in the teeth, as everybody knows, and we were eager to bounce back.”

Manager Alex Ferguson said: “Aldershot fought really hard and can take a lot of credit, they never stopped running and pressing.

“We obviously showed our quality at times and could have scored a few more towards the end when they were tired.

“We’re satisfied. In cup ties the important thing is winning the game and we’re in the next round now.”

Elsewhere last night Arsenal were saved by a quickfire double salvo from Andrey Arshavin and Park Ju-Young as they secured progression to the Carling Cup quarter-finals against Bolton with a 2-1 win.

The pair scored within three minutes of one another after the break to continue the Gunners’ unbeaten League Cup run at the Emirates Stadium after receiving a scare at the start of the second half.

Neither side managed to dominate the first period but the Trotters started well after the break, taking the lead through Fabrice Muamba after he dispossessed Emmanuel Frimpong.

The Gunners responded well to falling behind and, after seeing Ivan Klasnic come close to doubling the visitors’ advantage, levelled through Arshavin as he fired across the face of goal.

He turned provider three minutes later as he played in Park, who curled home a superb effort to ensure Arsenal would make the quarter-finals for the ninth successive year.

The north Londoners had to withstand a barrage of Bolton pressure to hold out for victory but the majority of the 56,628 crowd could celebrate fourth round success, as well as the return of Thomas Vermaelen from a two-month injury lay-off.

Elsewhere Republic of Ireland U21 international Joe Mason’s 40th-minute strike earned Cardiff a 1-0 win at home to 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 pushed them further ahead.

Carling Cup results: Aldershot Town 0 Man United 3, Arsenal 2 Bolton 1, Cardiff City 1 Burnley 0, Crystal Palace 2 Southampton 0.

League One results: Brentford 0 Stevenage 1, Bury 2 Notts County 2, Carlisle United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 2, Colchester United 1 Bournemouth 1, Hartlepool United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2, Preston 3 Oldham Athletic 3, Rochdale 1 Chesterfield 1, Scunthorpe 2 Huddersfield Town 2, Sheffield United 2 MK Dons 1, Walsall 1 Exeter City 2, Wycombe 1 Charlton Athletic 2, Yeovil 2 Leyton Orient 2.

League Two results: Barnet 0 Southend 3, Bristol Rovers 0 Port Vale 3, Cheltenham 0 Crewe Alexandra 1, Crawley 3 Dagenham & R’bridge 1, Macclesfield Town 1 Bradford City 0, Morecambe 3 Rotherham 3, Northampton Town 1 Hereford United 3, Oxford United 5 Plymouth Argyle 1, Shrewsbury Town 1 Accrington 0, Swindon Town 2 Gillingham 0, Torquay United 4 AFC Wimbledon 0.

Scottish Communities League Cup results: Dundee United 2 Falkirk 2 (Falkirk won 5-4 on pens) , Kilmarnock 2 East Fife 0, St Mirren 0 Ayr United 1.

La Liga: Granada 0 Barcelona 1.

Serie A: Juventus 2 Fiorentina 1.