MANCHESTER United qualified to the quarter final of the FA Cup with a massive victory against Derby County at Pride Park.
United will play either Swansea City or Fulham away in the next round.
Goals from Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Danny Welbeck kept up Sir Alex’s side hopes of an extraordinary quadruple.
The gaffer made seven changes to his side that won at West Ham last weekend in the English premier league, with Ben Foster, England’s future goalkeeper, given a start.
The Reds started strongly and Derby keeper Stephen Bywater made a brilliant reaction save to deny Park Ji-Sung. After that, Luis Nani scored United first goal from a strict 20-yard shot that Bywater could not keep out.
The second goal came before the break when Gibson volleyed home the loose ball after Ronaldo’s free-kick cannoned into the Derby wall.
The second half was not three minutes old before Ronaldo scored United’s third, rising at the near post to power home a Giggs corner from the right flank.
Derby were struggling and when Ronaldo found his way through again, Bywater needed to make an excellent save and then deny Fletcher from the rebound to prevent a fourth.
Ferguson made a couple of changes, bringing John O’Shea and Welbeck on for Evra and Park but United barely had time to adjust before Derby pulled one back when Commons crossed for Miles Addison, who guided his header into the corner.
It was left to young Danny Welbeck to seal the tie for the visitors, as he provided a sumptuous finish and grab his second FA Cup goal of the season and giving United an easy 4-1 victory against the Championship side.
Goals:
