Man United 4 Leicester 1: Goals from Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba in manic first-half ensure Jose Mourinho isn’t left to Roo decision to drop Wayne

GOALS from Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba ensured Jose Mourinho wasn’t left to Roo the decision to leave Wayne on the bench for the showdown with champions Leicester.

Smalling – United’s captain in the absence of Wayne Rooney – got his side off to a flying start as his thumping header from a swinging Daley Blind cross in the 22nd minute gave them the lead.

Mata doubled their lead ten minutes before the break following a wonderful team move – including flicks from Pogba and Jesse Lingard – rifling a left-footed shot into the top corner beyond the despairing Ron-Robert Zieler.

Moments later it was 3-0 as the Foxes fell asleep at the back and were caught out by a quickly-taken corner which ended in Mata yards from goal, who unselfishly squared to Rashford who slotted home the easiest of goals.

Before even getting a chance to draw breath, Claudio Ranieri‘s men were four-down, as Pogba got his United goals tally up and running with a powerful header from yet another corner.

It took a Demarai Gray screamer to reduce the deficit, as the Leicester man jinked inside from the left wing, before beating two players and rifling a stunner into the top corner, beyond David De Gea.

The youngster tried another minutes later, only to be denied by De Gea… With the first incredible effort, nothing more than a consolation wonder-strike.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• WAYNE ROONEY was axed for the first time since last Boxing Day under Louis van Gaal. The Dutch coach brought him on at the break with Manchester United 2-0 down. That was how the result stayed in a run of four defeats.
• HOWEVER while there has been a fans clamour to drop their captain he had actually created more chances (12) than any other United player before yesterday.
• SINCE the Premier League’s inception it has been regular to say you are ‘off to Old Trafford to see the Champions’. Not usually because it is Leicester who are visiting, however. It all still seems so unreal.

• MARCUS RASHFORD was enjoying his first Premier League start of the season after scoring at Watford last Sunday. That was United’s 800th away goal in the Premier League, 96 more than any other side at that point.
• IT has been a tough week for Jose Mourinho after three defeats but he delivered a passionate message in his programme notes saying: ‘This is a giant club, a club with a history of success and a history of passion and passion is something I promise to bring. I don’t know any other way of being in life’.
• DANNY DRINKWATER was back at the club he started at as a youth player before being rejected without making a first team start. He could be back here permanently next season as he is top of Mourinho’s wanted list.

• THERE was a nice touch by club sponsors Chevrolet who had invited eleven disadvantaged children from around the world to be mascots for the day. Each player had the name of the mascot he was with on a shirt which they then presented to them.
• UNITED fan Anthony Crolla understandably could not attend yesterday as he prepared for his fight at the Manchester Arena this evening but he left a message in today’s programme: ‘It will be nice to beat the defending champions, then for me to win…the perfect double.

• WE know he can do great things at football clubs and yesterday with his almost white hair, light grey shoes and black suit Jose Mourinho resembled a magic wand.
• HAVING watched United dismantle Leicester without him, Rooney will have at least been heartend by the applause he got when he came on with eight minutes remaining.

BIG PICTURE

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

MAN UNITED: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Smalling 7, Bailly 7, Blind 8, Pogba 8, Herrera 7, Mata 8 (Young 87, 6), Lingard 7 (Carrick 78, 6), Rashford 7 (Rooney 83, 5), Ibrahimovic 7.

Subs not used: Romero, Rojo, Fosu-Mensah, Fellaini.

Goals: Smalling (22), Mata (37), Rashford (39).

LEICESTER: Zieler 5, Simpson 5, Huth 5, Morgan 6, Fuchs 5, Mahrez 5 (King 46, 6), Drinkwater 6, Amartey 6, Albrighton 5 (Schlupp 62, 6), Slimani 6, Vardy 5 (Gray 46, 7).

Subs not used: Hamer, Rodriguez, Okazaki, Ulloa.

Booked: Huth, Simpson.

STAR MAN: PAUL POGBA (Man United)

WHAT THEY SAID

Man United boss Jose Mourinho:  “It was a very good performance and result. It is not easy against them and not easy to win in the style that we did.

“Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United and this country. he is my man, I trust him completely. He is happy.”

Man United midfielder Paul Pogba: “We were very focused, we knew it was gong to be difficult and we showed a very big performance today. We want to keep on with that.

“I am very happy for the result and the goal – I hope that is not going to be the last.