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ON THE WAYNE

Manchester United 4 Fenerbahce 1: Paul Pogba double inspires rout but Wayne Rooney is goalless despite playing up front

England skipper snubbed two first-half penalties with Anthony Martial and Pogba taking full advantage

By Jamie Gordon
20th October 2016, 9:56 pm
Updated: 30th October 2016, 10:16 am

WAYNE ROONEY was given a rare start up front but failed to take advantage as Manchester United hammered Fenerbahce.

The England skipper snubbed the chance to take two first-half penalties with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial on target.
PA:Press Association
Wayne Rooney turned down two opportunities to score from the spot

Pogba added a second with a superb curling effort after the break before Rooney set up Jesse Lingard for a fourth.

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Robin van Persie added a late consolation to receive a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful.
Getty Images
Anthony Martial tucks away his spot-kick to make it 2-0

Getty Images
Frenchman won and converted his penalty

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • RVP scored 58 goals in 105 appearances in his three years at United. No wonder he had a warm welcome back.
  • That ‘little boy screaming inside’ when he joined here in 2012 was probably yelling at his hopeless team-mates last night.
  • Fenerbahce were the opponents when Wayne Rooney made a sensational United bow here back in September 2004. He was 26-1 to repeat the trick last night.
Paul Pogba holds his nerve from the penalty spot
  • Former England boss Sam Allardyce was in the directors box. He made the short trip from his home in Bolton to sit alongside his old mate Alex Ferguson.
  •   was also in the directors box – that’s as close as he’s been to the first team for a while.
  • If Wayne Rooney took penalties these days… he could have gone within one of Bobby Charlton’s goal scoring record.
PA:Press Association
World’s most expensive player curls home a beauty for 3-0
  • There were two minutes and 55 seconds between the two penalties which put United in command. Wonder if they were watching and taking notes at the Etihad…
  • This was the first time Pogba has scored twice in a game in almost two years. The last time came for Juventus v Napoli in November 2014.
  • Pogba and Lingard put each other through their paces with a ‘Dab’ dance after each of their goals.
  • Only Rooney and RVP have scored hat-tricks for United in the past couple of years. Pogba’s hopes of joining them ended when he was hooked 15 minutes from time.

BIG PICTURE

United's next five fixtures

Chelsea (a) – October 23
Manchester City (a) – October 26
Burnley (h) – October 29
Fenerbahce (a) – November 3
Swansea (a) – November 6

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Darmian 7, Smalling 6, Bailly 6, Shaw 7, Carrick 7, Pogba 8, Lingard 8, Mata 7, Martial 7, Rooney 7.  Subs: Rojo 6, Depay 6, Fosu-Mensah 6.

WHAT THEY SAID

Paul Pogba:“We wanted the win because it was really important and now we are top of the group and are looking forward to the next game.

“I told Wayne I wanted to take the penalty and he let me. I am very happy to score that penalty and from a player like him to let me it is big respect so I am very glad.

“I feel comfortable with all of the team. It is just at the start of the season and there is still a long way to go and we want to go up and do our best and be top of the league.”

Jose Mourinho: “Two days ago Pogba was the worst player in the Premier League, but now he is phenomenal. He’s had an instant impact.”

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