Manchester United stroll past Shrewsbury to ease pressure on Louis van Gaal

Manchester United recovered from their disappointing Europa League first-leg loss at FC Midtjylland to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, beating Shrewsbury Town 3-0 at Greenhous Meadow on Monday.

Defender Chris Smalling got the ball rolling when his deflected strike bounced into the ground and then looped over goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler and into the far corner, before Juan Mata added a controversial second just before the break, dipping a neat free-kick into the far corner as the Shrews 'keeper appeared distracted by three United players in an offside position.

Shrewsbury offered little in terms of attack as United dominated with 75 per cent of possession, the Shropshire club failing to muster a single shot on target. And Jesse Lingard finished off a fluid United move to put the game to bed, firing home Ander Herrera’s cross at the far post following a swift counter-attack.

The result means that United secure a home tie against West Ham United in the quarter-finals although their more immediate concern will be the return Europa League leg against Danish champions Midtjylland at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Should Mata’s second goal have stood? Probably not. Three United players were clearly in an offside position and possibly unsighting Leutwiler as Mata’s free kick sailed over the wall and into the net.

Juan Mata (Manchester United): Pulled all the strings for United in attack and was comfortably the best player on the field before being subbed after 65 minutes with bigger fish for United to fry in the coming weeks.

Shrewsbury Town: Leutwiler 7, Whitbread 7, Grandison 6, Black 6, Whalley 6, Brown 7, Grimmer 6, Ogogo 6, Mangan 6, Knight-Percival 6, Akpa Akpro 6. SUBS: Clark 6, Cole 6.

Manchester United: Romero 6, Varela 6, Smalling 6, Blind 6, Borthwick-Jackson 6, Schneiderlin 6, Herrera 7, Memphis 6, Mata 8, Lingard 7, Martial 6. SUBS: Pereira 7, Riley 6, Keane 6.

11’ – GOOD SAVE LEUTWILER: Memphis turns well and for once gets his shot on target but Leutwiler gets down to turn it away with his left hand.

28’ – LEUTWILER SAVES SHREWS AGAIN: Martial turns in the box and gets his shot away but Leutwiler saves with his legs before Ogogo clears.

37’ – GOAL! Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Manchester United: Slightly fortuitous as Chris Smalling bobbles a shot into the ground and over Leutwiler from an angle via a slight deflection off Knight-Percival.

45’ – GOAL! Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Manchester United: It’s a lovely, left-footed free-kick on the edge of the box from Juan Mata although three United players in an offside position may have unsighted keeper Leutwiler.

61’ – GOAL! Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Manchester United: Lingard finishes off a lovely move by slotting home Herrera’s cross at the back post.

75’ – POST: Substitute Keane wraps a shot against the post but injures his groin in the process and has to leave the field.

87’ – CHANCE SHREWSBURY: A Great ball in for Grimmer finds Ogogo unmarked only five yards out. Any header on target would probably do but he nods it wide.