A Grim Night

As the likes of Garnacho and Antony appear to many to be nearing the exit door at Old Trafford, Manchester United fans will be more concerned with the exit door they themselves have just ambled through. With United exiting the EFL cup on Wednesday evening after an embarrassing defeat away to league two high flyers Grimsby Town.

The First Half

United came into the game looking to inject some confidence into what many would already describe as a floundering start to the season. This hope was quickly extinguished as United saw their league two opponent come flying out of the blocks, and for the most part looked like the team they themselves that sit 56 places higher in the league pyramid.

The Lincolnshire side showed no fear in going toe to toe with their premier league visitors despite the strong side that Ruben Amorim named, and quickly forced Manchester United into hurried wayward clearances, misplaced 5-yard passes and two united players rugby tackling each other in an attempt to win the ball; the same passage of play which saw Grimsby counter effectively, leading to Vernam beating Onana at his near post. A goal which lifted the roof off Blundell Park and sent the home fans into raptures.

But Grimsby were not done there. If United fans thought their often-maligned keeper was at fault for the first goal being beaten unconvincingly at his near post, then there is no doubt that he was more than culpable for the second. As he flapped at an in-swinging cross into the box, failing to get a connection on the ball and allowing former United Academy player Warren to practically walk the ball into an empty net, even having time to gaze across to the linesman to ensure that a flag wasn’t going to rob him of what was evidently a magical moment for the player.

The Grimsby fans where clearly having a euphoric evening aiming classic terrace football chants at the United bench such as “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” “who are ya” & “can we play you every week.” Jubilation that even the most ardent Manchester United fans wouldn’t begrudge them of. Some although might not admit it might have even felt like joining in at times given their sides lacklustre and at times shambolic display. Leading them to exit the field after the first 45 minutes 2-0 down to their lower league opponents.

The Second Half

Like the pathetic fallacy that was unfolding in front of our eyes. The second half started with flashes of lighting which was quickly followed by the heavens opening turning the pitch into what can only be described as a slip ‘n’ slide. With players using the conditions to slide into tackles and to take pop shots from far out to try to catch out their counterparties manning goal at both ends of the stadium.

Like the conditions, tonight’s fixture showed that lightning can indeed strike twice as many Manchester United fans will remember the embarrassing 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the same round of the competition last time United entered at the second-round stage.

It could have got even worse for United as the hosts thought they had a third for it only to be ruled out by a questionable offside call; one that if VAR had been at play may have seen the hosts with an unassailable lead.

 Like often happens in these situations minutes later that lead was halved by the premier league visitors. Once the game had restarted Manchester United’s new Number 19, Bryan Mbeumo who went up the other end and took full advantage of the slick conditions. Slotting home a smart finish leaving the Grimsby Town keeper no chance, and scoring his first goal for the club since joining in the summer from Brentford.

As you would have expected this galvanised the visitors who used that goal as a springboard to get themselves at long last onto the ascendency with the pressure finally proving too much for the League Two hosts and a familiar name for those last-ditch Manchester United goals popped up with another, as Harry Maguire appeared unmarked at the back post from a corner to nod home levelling the game at 2-2 and taking the game into a penalty shootout.

The Shootout

The penalties themselves went beyond the distance, in front of the home fans. With the shoot out going into sudden death which included kicks from both keepers and going back around to the original takers of the spot kicks. Amorim himself was unable to watch as he sat in the dugout head in hands for the majority.

With the shootout lasting nigh on 20 minutes, it was the underdog home side that came away victorious following a miss at the second time of asking from one of United's goal scorers earlier in the night Mbeumo. Who saw his second penalty kick cannon back off the underside of the bar, meaning that the home side secured the win 12-11. A win that saw a monumental pitch invasion at Blundell Park akin to ones you often only see on the last day of the season following promotion or survival from relegation. But who can blame them, as they knocked out one of the teams that would have been a shoe in to have gone the distance in the competition.

Post-Match Reaction

As the home fans and players celebrated, Manchester United’s players and coaching staff quickly made their way off the pitch and onto the buses back to Manchester, where the 2 hour journey will likely be where the inquisition as to where Ruben Amorim's team go from here will begin. It will no doubt heap more scrutiny and pressure on the Portuguese manager, who has already overseen a disappointing start to the season, with Wednesday night being the worst of the lot in both result and performance. Some might even argue it's the worst of his tenure to date, a tenure that already includes some truly humbling results across all competitions.

As bad as Manchester United were, Grimsby deserve a huge amount of credit for their performance, and they will no doubt go into the next round of the EFL cup buoyant and fancying themselves in beating whoever is put in front of them; drawing Sheffield Wednesday, who on tonight's showing they are more than capable of getting a result against.

Manchester United will now have to dust themselves down quickly and regain some level of composure ahead of what has now surely become an even more pivotal home fixture against Burnley at Saturday lunchtime, not withstanding the inevitable backlash and criticism which is likely to come in droves from fans and media alike ahead of the 3PM kick off.

Amorim's post match comments on the night have already started fuelling further speculation from many that a change in the United dugout is becoming increasingly more imminent. Although the players themselves should not be absolved of what was another horrible night. A night many that adorn the red of Manchester are becoming all too familiar.