Luton 0-3 Manchester United: Dean Henderson thrilled with ‘incredible’ debut

Dean Henderson said it was “incredible” to make a dream come true and make his Manchester United debut when the goalkeeper helped his team beat Luton to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood then closed the victory with late goals.

“I’ve dreamed of this my whole life” Henderson tweeted.

“Incredible feeling to debut with the club I love. Clean sheet and a win to top it off.”

Henderson went through Manchester United’s youth system but has spent much of his senior career at the loaned club and was with Sheffield United for the past two seasons.

His impressive performances for the Blades earned him a call-up for England’s senior team, although he has yet to make his debut for the Three Lions, and he returned to United this summer with the aim of challenging David de Gea for the number one spot.

“You have to make stops when necessary,” Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after Tuesday’s victory.

“David [de Gea] he’s done that for years and Dean has done it today. “

Victory means Manchester United will face Brighton or Preston of the Premier League Championship in the next round.

United leave it late to turn on the style

In the end it was a well-deserved victory for Manchester United, although it took a while for the visitors to get into their rhythm.

After making 10 changes from the team that lost at home to Crystal Palace in their first Premier League match at the weekend, Solskjaer challenged his players to produce a much better performance in this game.

Only captain Harry Maguire kept his place on the team when Henderson made his competitive debut, while Donny van de Beek had his first start after coming off the bench to score against Palace.

But for long periods of this game, Manchester United were clearly out of tune. They were slow to pass and lacked the creativity to open up a disciplined side of Luton.

After Mata’s penalty, awarded after a foul on Brandon Williams inside the area, the visitors struggled to find a second to kill the game.

Henderson had little to do, but he provided perhaps the crucial moment of the game with a superb one-handed save to deny Lockyer the draw at the end, before Eric Bailly cleared Lockyer’s follow-up off the line.

Solskjaer had perhaps sensed the danger of late drama moments before when he sent Rashford and Greenwood to attack a weary Luton defense and the pair came up with the merchandise.

Greenwood provided the spark that Manchester United was missing, setting up Rashford to shoot home the second before snuggling into a final third.

The final score may have flattered United, but it was a much-needed victory after a slow start to the campaign.

‘I’m proud of the team’ – what they said

Luton Town Manager Nathan Jones speaking to Sky Sports: “It flatters them enormously. For 85-86 minutes I thought we were outstanding and then they bring in Rashford and Greenwood. They keep going when we’re trying to get the goal back.

“It took a penalty and a small blow to put them ahead. Throughout the game, structurally, how we work and the quality we show, I am very proud of the team.”

Ole’s half century – the statistics

• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won 50 of his 92 games in charge of Manchester United in all competitions; only Ernest Mangnall (78 games) and Jose Mourinho (81 games) have achieved 50 managerial wins in fewer games for the Red Devils.
• Manchester United are undefeated in their last 11 meetings with Luton (9 wins, 2 draws), since a 2-1 loss in a top flight match in March 1987.
• Since the beginning of last season, Manchester United have taken (23) and scored (19) more penalties in all competitions than any other team in the English league.
• Manchester United’s Rashford has been involved in 10 goals in his last seven League Cup appearances (seven goals, three assists).

Whats Next?

Luton will return to Championship action on Saturday on his trip to Watford (12:30 BST), while Manchester United will be in Brighton for the Premier League on the same day (12:30 BST).