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Shrewsbury Town
FA Cup | Fifth Round
Feb 22, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Smalling (37'), Mata (45'), Lingard (61')

Manchester United ease into last eight of FA Cup

Manchester United ease into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a 3-0 win at League One side Shrewsbury Town on Monday night.

Manchester United have booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a 3-0 win over League One side Shrewsbury Town in the fifth round of the competition on Monday night.

First-half goals from Chris Smalling and Juan Mata saw the Premier League outfit lead at the break, before Jesse Lingard scored a third just past the hour on what was a very comfortable night for Louis van Gaal's team.

Jesse Lingard celebrates scoring during the FA Cup game between Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United on February 22, 2016© Getty Images

The visitors had a half-chance inside two minutes when Daley Blind picked out the head of fellow centre-back Smalling from a corner, but the England international's effort was over the crossbar.

Memphis Depay also had two speculative efforts early on, but the attacker failed to test Jayson Leutwiler in the Shrewsbury goal. He did manage to test the home side's stopper in the 10th minute when he turned and fired towards the bottom corner, but the Swiss was on hand to save.

Memphis Depay looks on during the FA Cup fifth-round match between Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United on February 22, 2016© Getty Images

Mata and Ander Herrera also had long-range efforts inside the opening 22 minutes, but despite dominating possession, Man United were struggling to create clear chances.

Depay might well have been picking out the top corner from a free kick in the 27th minute, but the Dutchman's own teammate Anthony Martial deflected the ball behind.

Martial came close himself two minutes later after turning inside the Shrewsbury box, but Abu Ogogo was on hand to clear off the line after Leutwiler had made a decent stop with his foot.

The visitors finally made the breakthrough in the 37th minute, however, when Schneiderlin flicked a Borthwick-Jackson pass onto Smalling, whose effort, which was struck into the ground, bounced out of the reach of Leutwiler.

It got better for Man United in first-half stoppage time when Mata curled a free kick into the far corner to cap a first period which saw the Premier League side have 79% of the possession.

Juan Mata scores from a free kick during the FA Cup game between Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United on February 22, 2016© Getty Images

Joe Riley was introduced for his Man United debut at the start of the second period, while Cole came on for the home side, who switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation in a bid to change their fortunes.

The visitors had two opportunities to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute, but Depay's low strike was deflected just wide of the post, before Martial somehow headed wide from close range.

Man United did have a third just past the hour, however, when Lingard fired home from close range. The move started with Sergio Romero, who released down-field into Herrera and after a one-two with Mata, the Spaniard delivered a cross into Lingard, who found the back of the net.

Chris Smalling shoots past Nat Knight-Percival during the FA Cup game between Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United on February 22, 2016© Getty Images

Lingard should have scored his second in the 72nd minute after a through-pass from Depay, but the Englishman could only fire wide of the post from close range, before Will Keane hit the post from inside the box.

Shrewsbury, who are currently languishing in the League One relegation zone, caused Romero some concern 10 minutes from time when Junior Brown delivered a free kick into Whitbread, but the centre-back was penalised for a foul on the Argentine.

Ogogo had Shrewsbury's best chance of the match in the 87th minute after meeting a deep cross from Jack Grimmer, but somehow he headed wide of the post as the home side ended the night without registering an attempt on target.

Man United will face West Ham United in the quarter-finals of the competition next month.

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