Jesse Lingard double hands Manchester United confidence-boosting win over Swansea in the EFL Cup
Swansea City 0 Manchester United 2: Lingard scored either side of half-time to put the holders in the fifth round
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Your support makes all the difference.Jesse Lingard's double saw Manchester United bounce back in emphatic style at Swansea City last night.
The 24-year-old midfielder netted his first ever United brace to ease the pain of their shock defeat at Huddersfield on Saturday.
The England international gave the Carabao Cup holders a 21st-minute lead at the Liberty Stadium then doubled it with a thunderous header a minute before the hour to clinch a place in the fifth round.
In truth, United were never really tested and once they got their noses in front, there was a certain inevitability to a return to winning ways.
United were looking to avoid back-to-back defeats for first time since September 2016 and manager Jose Mourinho kept faith with five of the losing side from the John Smiths Stadium.
Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all got the opportunity to redeem themselves in south Wales.
They responded in the right fashion too and United could have taken the lead in the opening 90 seconds but Smalling headed wide from Rashford's corner.
The visitors were then denied as Lingard's piledriver from 22 yards was tipped over by Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Swansea created very little throughout and a rare offering saw Jordan Ayew loop a floating header into the arms of Sergio Romero.
But after a decent spell of Swans' pressure, United showed the route to goal with a goal of delicious simplicity.
Lingard coolly found the corner of the net, placing the ball beyond the reach of outstretched fingers of Nordfeldt.
It was lovely strike, coming after Rashford's flick sent him clean through following Ander Herrera's pass.
United had a scare on the half hour when a cross from Ki Sung-Yeung was headed towards his own goal by Blind and hit Oli McBurnie to catapult just wide.
Swansea were dealt a blow when left back Martin Olsson limped off with a hamstring injury after 39 minutes, handing Kyle Naughton a chance.
Lingard had fire in his boots though and tried his luck again on 34, slicing into the sidenetting with an angled shot.
There was a dramatic end to the first half as United could have doubled their lead while Swansea wasted two half chances to equalise.
Scott McTominay swept a first-time curling effort too high for United after Herrera then Anthony Martial teed him up for a 20-yarder.
Then at the other end, Sam Clucas sidefooted just wide from 25 yards before the dangerous McBurnie looped a shot over.
United made a positive start to the second half and Rashford's wickedly dipping free kick was punched away by an uncertain Nordfeldt on 52.
Sometimes there is only one way to stop the fleet-footed Rashford, and for upending him Clucas earned the first yellow card of the game on 56.
But there was no stopping Lingard, and he made it 2-0 when he ghosted between Alfie Mawson and Angel Rangel to meet Matteo Darmian's teasing cross with a fierce header to leave Nordfeldt flailing for his third goal of the season.
The impish number 10 was clearly going for his hat-trick, and he wriggled through only to fire across the face of goal soon afterwards.
With United in cruise control, Mourinho brought on Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic for Rashford and Herrera in the 67th minute.
But it was Swansea who provided the next threat, courtesy of one of their own substitutes, Tammy Abraham, who replaced McBurnie in the 72nd minute.
The on-loan Chelsea striker's dipping, angled shot was tipped over by the backpedalling Romero as the Swans eyed a comeback.
But it was too little, too late for the Swans, who must now concentrate on staying in the Premier League after four defeats in five in all competitions.
Jesse Lingard said: “It is always good to win trophies, especially this one which comes so early in the season. I thought we were in control. We had to put things right. We have learned from the weekend and we want to move on. It was my first header in a long time, but I am just happy however they go in.”
For United boss Mourinho, it was a victory on his 400th match in English football – his 252nd win.
The Special One said: “Of course I still get the same thrill from it, but 2004 was a long time ago. I am more mature and have a different way to react to things. We were in the game from the first minutes, pressing and forcing things, the attitude was good,” he said.
“Scott McTominay did very well – he was strong in the midfield. Axel Tuanzebe started maybe a little shaky, but then we got stability and he came into it.”
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