Manchester United 4-1 Fenerbahçe: Pogba bags a brace in comfortable win

Manchester United cruised to a comfortable Europa League victory over Fenerbahçe at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and a Paul Pogba brace.

José Mourinho made seven changes to the side that drew with Liverpool on Monday night, with Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw and Michael Carrick among those coming in, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford were named as substitutes.

United made a rather pedestrian start to the game, enjoying plenty of possession but mustering little urgency or penetration.

After half an hour, a direct approach yielded greater results for the home team as Carrick’s perfectly weighted 40-yard pass picked out Juan Mata in the penalty area. The Spaniard’s first touch was immaculate and as he turned he was fouled by Simon Kjaer for a penalty.

Pogba stepped up to take the spot kick and smashed it into the bottom corner after a tip-toed run up.

Two minutes later, Martial burst into the penalty area to latch onto Mata’s through ball and was pushed to the ground by Sener Ozbayrakli. The referee again pointed to the spot.

This time it was Martial who took responsibility and powered the ball into the bottom left corner from 12 yards.

Fenerbahçe almost hit back immediately after Carrick lost possession inside his own half. Brazilian midfielder Souza broke through on goal but his rasping shot was saved by David de Gea.

In stoppage time at the end of the first period United bagged a third.

Rooney won possession wide on the right and picked out Lingard with a low cross. The Manchester-born midfielder turned and laid the ball back for the on-rushing Pogba.

The £89 million man curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner of Volkan Demirel’s goal from 20 yards.

Fener made an offensive change at half-time by bringing on striker Emmanuel Emenike for Kjaer, while United swapped Chris Smalling for Marcos Rojo.

Less than three minutes into the second half, Pogba picked out Rooney on the edge of the box. The skipper then fed Lingard who smashed a powerful drive into the bottom corner to give United at 4-0 lead.

In the 60th minute, former United hero Robin van Persie almost marked his return to Old Trafford with a goal, but his curling strike from the edge of the penalty area flew just wide.

After 65 minutes, goal-scorer Lingard was replaced by Memphis Depay.

Five minutes later Rooney found Mata in the box. The former Chelsea player tried to cut back for Martial but his pass was intercepted. Depay then hit a speculative 30 yard shot wide.

There was to be no hat-trick for Pogba as he was taken off after 75 minutes with one eye on Sunday’s trip to Chelsea; Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaced the Frenchman.

Mata should have made it 5-0 with 13 minutes left when he was put through by Depay, but his shot was too close to Demirel who saved with his feet.

With seven minutes to play, van Persie notched from close range to pull one back for the away team. With the game already won, the United faithful stood to applaud one of their former idols.

Fenerbahçe were buoyed by the late goal and Souza tested de Gea from range.

As the clock wound down, a lovely passing move almost led to a fifth goal for United, but Fosu-Mensah’s scuffed left-footed shot was easily saved. The referee mercifully blew the final whistle shortly after; a more than satisfactory night’s work for Mourinho’s men.