Martial soaks up the acclaim of the United fans after scoring his side’s third goal

Once again Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the mood right, the starting XI right, the tactics right and the substitutions right. Once again, the caretaker from Norway looked more and more like the right man for Manchester United. The emotional salute from the 5,200 travelling fans just before the final whistle seemed almost a loud signal to the United board, or at least a resounding vote of confidence in Solskjaer.

When United dismissed José Mourinho on December 18 after a poor run of results and performances, they turned to Solskjaer, 45. Everyone anticipated an immediate uplift in form, simply because Mourinho had gone, but eight wins on the spin, including away victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal? Few could have predicted, even prayed for that.

The Frenchman’s smart finish sealed United’s place in the fifth round TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND

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