Manchester United and their manager Jose Mourinho temporarily stemmed the torrential flow of criticism and vitriol that has been flung their way over the past week with a much-needed win against a team that is 47 ranks below them in the English football hierarchy. They dominated for large periods of the game without having much to show for it – especially in a first half that ended 1-1. Two late second half goals sealed the win for Mourinho's men and booked them a place in the fourth round where they will face their friendly neighbours Manchester City. Here are the major talking points from an entertaining encounter at Sixfields Stadium
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#1. Rashford's Midas touch is saving Man United's blushes time and time again
Some 2016 the kid from Manchester is having. Over the course of the past nine months, Marcus Rashford has scored on his debut in the Premier League, his Europa League debut, England u-21 debut, England debut and now on his League Cup debut.
It is a damning indictment of United that they need an 18-year to save their blushes time and time again, but it speaks volumes of the talent, and the character, of the youngster. This time, he came on with the match meandering along with United doing their best impression of how they were last season under Louis Van Gaal and injected some much-needed vim and vigour into proceedings.
He set up Ander Herrera's goal that allowed United to regain the lead before his tireless running was rewarded with a goal when Northampton's Adam Smith came up with a gaffe that the goalkeeper will want to forget in a hurry.
Rashford was everything that United's fans want them to be – fast, direct and electric. Mourinho's long established lack of faith in youngsters may well be on its way to the dustbin.
#2. Nothing is going right for Wayne Rooney
A+ for effort, an F for impact.
The United captain ran his socks off yesterday night – as he has done for nearly 15 years now - but there was very little end product. More than anything he looks as confused about his position as his managers have over the past couple of years. Restored to a striking role Rooney mistimed runs, was caught offside regularly and generally looked quite lost.
His first touch has long since departed him and his shots have a fraction of his trademark violence and power. It was no different yesterday. He was comfortably handled by the third-division's eleventh placed side and that has got to hurt a man once struck fear into the hearts of the best defenders in Milan, Madrid and Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho cannot ignore the elephant in the room anymore. It can't have escaped his attention that United played their best football when his captain was shunted out to the right, and the play channeled through the left.
#3. Micheal Carrick shows Mourinho how important it is to have a pass-master in Midfield
It is no coincidence that United tend to win more than they lose when Micheal Carrick plays in that deep-lying midfield role he has made his own. The Englishman had a more direct impact on the game with a rare goal coming off a well-placed shot, but it was his calm and assured presence in midfield that kept United ticking. He controlled the game throughout – and for the first 40 minutes helped United dominate possession. That there was no more than a goal to show for it was more down to failures elsewhere.
Carrick may not have the legs to play week in and week out in the high-tempo world of English football, but his presence on the pitch showed Mourinho what he had been missing the past week. A midfielder who can distribute the ball well, and control the tempo of the match.
Daley Blind can play the role with near-equal competence and the United manager will need to look toward one of the two to steady the Mancunian's midfield.
Ander Herrera's energy and Morgan Schneiderlin's strength complimented the Englishman's passing well and It will be hard for Mourinho to keep Herrera, especially, out of the starting XI.
#4. Northampton show just why the League cup is important
This may sound a bit patronising, but Northampton and a boisterous Sixfields Stadium showed just why the much maligned League Cup is so important for English football.
It's all about the David vs Goliath narrative, and it isn't often that the crowd at Northampton gets to serenade a manager of Jose Mourinho's calibre and history with “You'll get sacked in the morning”.
The team from League One will be kicking themselves for the manner of their loss – a backpass that got picked up led to the first goal, and a fresh-air-kick from the goalkeeper led to the third.
In the latter parts of the second half they showed they had the skill and talent of their own and a couple of their moves could have graced any Premiership ground – the move that led to their penalty especially.
If they come away with the positives they showed during this game, they shouldn't remain in the lower half of the table for too long.
#5. United's defence looks shaky, and they'll need need to improve to have a better October
If Mourinho had been hoping for some respite after a tough September, he isn't going to get any. The fourth round match-up against City comes amidst a run of fixtures that includes Liverpool, Fenerbache, Chelsea and their neighbours in the latter half of next month.
With such a run, he needs something to restore his reputation as a maker of great defenses. Each of Smalling, Bailly and Blind have shown that they are prone to mistakes, and selecting an ideal combination of strength, power and passing ability will be crucial. It's here that it makes sense for Mourinho to play Blind just in front of the back two.
None of the fullbacks have convinced defensively yet – yesterday, Fosu Mensah showed a tentativeness that got punished and Rojo was as erratic as ever. It's how Mourinho handles that issue that will decide United's, and - in this increasingly hyped up, competitive world – his, fate come the end of the season.
