Erik ten Hag said he was pleased Manchester United “did the job” to beat Charlton Athletic in the League Cup quarter-finals but insisted his team should have finished off the tie earlier.
Brazilian winger Antony gave United a 21st-minute lead at Old Trafford but it wasn't until Marcus Rashford's late double did the hosts guarantee their place in the semi-finals.
“I said before we have to reach the semi-finals and we did the job,” United manager Ten Hag said. “We had to finish the game early on but, in the end, the objective was getting to the semi-final, so compliments to the team.
“The only thing I'm not happy with is we had to finish the game early on, finish the scoring chances or take an extra pass.”
Rashford, on as second-half substitute, extended his fine run of form with a well-taken brace which took his goal tally to seven in his last seven games and 15 for the season across all club competitions.
“I have said many times, when he brings himself in the position, when the team brings him in the position, one-on-ones, he will score,” Ten Hag said. “And that is what he is doing in this moment. So, if he keeps the focus and putting the same effort in, he will keep continuing scoring.”
Charlton manager Dean Holden said he was proud of his team's effort but urged his players to refocus for Saturday's League One match against Barnsley.
Man United v Charlton player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Tom Heaton – 7. His first Manchester United start over 20 years since he made his reserve debut for the club. The 36-year-old was confident when needed towards the end of the first and throughout the second half as Charlton became more emboldened. Clean sheet. PA -
Diogo Dalot – 6. Swept a shot over after 3 minutes, got forward (like every player) then came off injured after 34 minutes. AFP -
Harry Maguire – 7. Hit passes to Garnacho on the left before Charlton wised up to how effective it was. Booked after 79 following a block as he moved back towards his own goal after a run forward with the ball. AFP -
Lisandro Martinez – 6. Ten thousand Charlton fans cheered when the World Cup winner put the ball out by mistake. He smiled. Headed wide after 56. A full game to his name and now the really serious stuff starts again – with Saturday’s Manchester derby. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia – 6. Poor corners. Final ball lacking. Booked for a foul as Charlton attacked after 75th minute. Getty -
Scott McTominay – 6. Didn’t convince against a third-tier team. Passing accuracy the lowest in the team. AFP -
Fred – 8. Shot blocked after eight minutes, then he ran across the area with the ball, releasing it to Antony to score. Stunning free-kick dipped over the wall and struck the post on 34. Engine of the team. AP -
Antony – 6. Put United ahead after 20 minutes of pressure, curling a ball from Fred into the top corner past Maynard-Brewer. Zipped a similar effort wide after 54, but still to convince many fans. AP -
Kobbie Mainoo – 6. First team debut for the Mancunian and the 17-year-old midfielder didn’t disappoint. A valuable experience for him. PA -
Alejandro Garnacho – 8. Lit up Old Trafford at the start. Set up Dalot with a chance after three and then went for goal himself after six minutes, beating a man and shooting over. A sweeping 64th minute shot was well saved, while an 80th minute run set up Eriksen. Getty -
Anthony Elanga – 5. No goals in his last 30 appearances. Put the ball in the net after half time but was offside. Not making the same impact as a year ago. Getty -
SUBS: Aaron Wan Bissaka (Dalot 34’) – 7. Super tackle on Blackett-Taylor before half time to stop a rare Charlton attack. Crossed for Elanga, who was offside. Not popular with the huge Charlton support as he used to play for their South London rivals Crystal Palace. Getty -
Casemiro (Mainoo 60’) – 8. Brought on as Ten Hag sent his big guns out. Fraser was battling to get the ball off him. Couple of stunning crossfield passes – one led to the second. His lofted ball forward to Rashford assisted the third. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford (Antony 60’) – 8. Kept up his recent prolific scoring record with the second, controlling a Pellistri ball and scoring with his right foot. Added his second of the night in the 93rd minute, a left footed finish. He’s on fire. AFP -
Christian Eriksen (Fred 60’) – 7. Placed a ball across the goal on 71. Shot on target after 83. AFP -
Facundo Pellistri (Elanga 84’) – 8. Some very rare minutes – it was his competitive debut and he signed in 2020 - for the fleet-heeled Uruguayan. Lively cameo where he showed his skills several times. Set up the goal for Rashford. AP -
CHARLTON PLAYER RATINGS: Ashley Maynard-Brewer – 7. Could do very little about any of United’s three goals. Made a superb stop from Eriksen with a few minutes remaining in what was generally a fine outing. AFP -
Sean Clare – 7. Struggled early on against the dangerous Garnacho, who generally had the beating of the right-back. Improved drastically in the second period, winning individual duels with some impressive tackles. AFP -
Ryan Inniss – 6. Solid in the heart of the Charlton defence. Led the relatively young backline well for the first 80 minutes or so. Getty -
Lucas Ness – 6. The former Metropolitan Police defender provided one of the best storylines of the night. In just his 13th first-team appearance for Charlton, the 20-year-old didn’t look at all out of place, keeping his composure as United piled the pressure on. AP -
Steven Sessegnon – 6. The former England U17 international was one of the standout players from the first half, contributing with some vital interceptions and blocks. AP -
Albie Morgan – 8. Provided great energy and industry in the Charlton midfield. The 22-year-old was subbed off in the second period having made a stellar contribution to the game. Getty -
George Dobson – 7. Showcased excellent defensive awareness, helping to shield the backline and shut down the likes of Fred centrally. A very tidy display indeed, even if he did tire towards the end. PA -
Scott Fraser – 7. Charlton’s chief creative outlet, providing both excellent passing and crossing from deep. More often than not, counters by the League One side came courtesy of the Scottish playmaker. Getty -
Jerusun Rak-Sakyi – 7. A direct runner with the ball, dribbling past his man on several occasions - even winning a handful of free-kicks in dangerous positions in the process. The Crystal Palace loanee is certainly one to watch for the future. AP -
Miles Leaburn – 6. A willing runner in behind, but he often cut an isolated figure as through balls and passes went astray. A night of what-ifs for the 19-year-old forward. Reuters -
Corey Blackett-Taylor – 5. Arguably at fault for Antony’s opener, having failed to close the Brazilian down quickly enough. The winger also didn’t provide too much of an outlet down the left. AFP -
SUBS: Eoghan O’Connell (Blackett-Taylor 61’) – 6. Offered good runs in behind on the counter. Getty -
Jack Payne (Morgan 66’) – 6. The midfielder worked tirelessly having come on for the final 25 minutes or so. PA -
Aaron Henry (Rak-Sakyi 82’) – N/A. Came on for the final few minutes. AFP -
Jayden Stockley (Sessegnon 82’) – N/A. Provided fresh legs. Getty
“Pride in the performance and pride in the way we showed ourselves as a football club — on and off the pitch,” said Holden. “We rode our luck for the first 20 minutes but we defended the box really well — which club comes here and doesn’t have to ride their luck in the Premier League? We grew into the game on the back of that.
“We were so close. How many times on the counter-attack were we close to finding that last pass, that final moment? We just couldn’t find it. I’m disappointed with losing the game. We’re trying to get a winning culture into the team.
“This can’t be after the lord mayor’s show,” Holden added. “We’ve got Barnsley to take care off at the weekend.”
