Manchester United vs Rochdale player ratings: Fred and Phil Jones fail to impress in EFL Cup scare

Solskjaer's side need spot-kicks to see off third-tier neighbours

Manchester United progress to the fourth round of this year’s EFL Cup, but only after having their many problems exposed by third-tier Rochdale.

It was a night that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will quickly want to forget, but it only raised more questions about the current state of this side.

This was uninspiring fare from United, even though Mason Greenwood’s breakthrough briefly threatened to save Solskjaer from a discreditable draw for the second time in the space of a week.

Greenwood performed similar heroics against Astana last Thursday, but Rochdale had a teenage dream of their own: Luke Matheson. A year Greenwood’s junior, the full-back volleyed in a shock equaliser.

It seemed as if United would be made to pay for too many poor, speculative efforts from range. Solskjaer’s side are still failing to create clear-cut opportunities against organised defences.

But at least the penalty woes of a few weeks ago are behind them. Their spot-kicks in the shoot-out were faultless, in fact, with Daniel James scoring the decisive kick to spare his manager's blushes.

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