Manchester United may have bossed Crystal Palace as they breezed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford – but just 17 miles away their under-21 side were being taught a lesson of their own by Bolton.
United’s under-21s were thrashed 8-1 by League One outfit Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Trophy at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on a chastening night for coach Travis Binnion.
Sections of United’s support – many of whom travelled with anti-Glazer banners – opted to attend the game in Bolton instead of the senior team’s 3-0 win over Palace.
But United’s youngsters were blown away by Bolton, who won the EFL Trophy last season, as the home side chalked up their biggest competitive victory in 40 years.
Wanderers had the game wrapped-up before half time as they led 4-0 thanks to two goals from Josh Sheehan, and strikes from Dan Nlundulu and Gethin Jones.
Nelson Khumbeni is congratulated on scoring his teams seventh goal in Bolton’s 8-1 victory
Josh Sheehan puts in the first of two goals he scored on the night as Bolton ran riot
United’s youngsters were taught a lesson by a far superior Bolton side in the EFL Trophy
Nlundulu scored his second just minutes after the restart before Wanderers added further goals from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and substitutes Nelson Khumbeni and Luke Matheson to complete the rout.
Matheson is no stranger to scoring against the Red Devils, having famously netted against United’s first team as a 16-year-old whilst playing for Rochdale in 2019 in a game that the Premier League side eventually won on penalties.
United did pull one back and prevent Neil Baxter when Omari Forsen scored midway through the second half, but it was scant consolation for Binnon’s side.
While their youngsters faltered in the EFL Trophy, Erik ten Hag’s first team made light work of their first game in defence of the Carabao Cup.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial eased them past Palace in a game that saw the full debut of Sofyan Amrabat and a returns from injury for Mason Mount.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson got in on the act with Bolton’s sixth goal in their biggest competitive win for 40 years
The result showed the gulf in class between the League One outfit and United’s youngsters
Travis Binnion could only look on as his young United side are hammered by League One Bolton
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