Paul Pogba bags brace as Manchester United thrash Fenerbahce

After enduring a tricky first half-hour, Manchester United wiped the floor with Fenerbahce, the passing of Michael Carrick and dynamism of Paul Pogba far too much for the visitors to handle. They now sit second in Group A, behind Feyernoord - who beat Zorya 1-0 - on head-to-head.

United did not start at all well, finding it difficult to locate space and passing much too slowly. But one pass from Carrick changed everything, lasered flat and 50 yards to Mata, who did superbly to control. Simon Kjaer tghen barged through the back of him and Pogba converted the resultant penalty.

Shortly afterwards, another brilliant pass - this time from Mata to Martial - led to another penalty, this one despatched by Martial. Nor were United finished there, Rooney crossing and Lingard's beautiful touch and lay-off setting Pogba to caress a violent, outswinging sidefooter into the top corner from outside the box.

Three minutes into the second half, United scored again, Pogba and Rooney combining for Lingard to larrup home another belter from outside the box, after which they eased off. This allowed Fenerbahce back into the game, and with seven minutes left, Old Trafford rose to applaud Robin van Persie's consolation goal.

Michael Carrick has yet to start a league game this season, but has been United's best player in the two Cup games for which he has been picked. He passes the ball forwards quickly, positions himself well defensively and, most importantly, doesn't limit the team in the way that Marouane Fellaini still does. Tonight, he got the best out of Paul Pogba and should play at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Paul Pogba and Juan Mata played well too, but it was Carrick's pass that created the first goal when United were struggling. He makes the players around him play better.

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

Fenerbahce: Demirel 6, Sener 7, Skrtel 6, Kjaer 5, Kaldirim 6, Souza 6, Topal 7, Neustadter 6, Alper 6, Van Persie 6, Sen 6. Subs: Emenike 7, Koybasi 6.

Paul Pogba hadn't scored twice in a game since November 2014 for Juventus against Lazio. United will be hoping he can do it again this week, never mind this season.

30 - PENALTY! Lovely long pass from Carrick, 50-odd yards and flat to pick out Mata on the left of the box. He extends a diddy leg, catches the ball, and Kjaer bundles into him as he slips. Silly penalty, but a penalty, and up steps Pogba...

31 - GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 FENERBAHCE (POGBA, PEN) The keeper wipes everything to put Pogba off, and he then does little pigeon steps, a sort of minimalist Zaza, waits for the keeper to dive left and curls right.

33 - Penalty to United! Beautiful from Mata, turning in centrefield to thread a pass into Martial's stride, inside Sener. Martial accelerates into the box and Sener bundles him over. He does well to avoid a card of any description.

34 - GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 FENERBAHCE (MARTIAL, PEN) Martial takes this one and goes into the same spot. The keeper goes the right way, but the kick has too much power, and this game is over.

45+1’ - GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 FENERBAHCE (POGBA) But that's all United need! What a goal this is! Kjaer is loose with a clearance and Rooney bursts down the right, cutting back an excellent pass for Lingard, who cushions to himself while he moved across the face of the box from right-to-left, then lays the ball back left for Pogba, who absolutely dematerialises a side footed outswinger into the top right corner. Boy can play.

48 - ANOTHER BRILLIANT GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 4-0 FENERBAHCE Pogba's firm pass into Rooney is deftly laid off to Lingard, on the edge of the box. He takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet, the larrups a drive across Demirel into the bottom right corner.

83 - GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 4-1 FENERBAHCE (VAN PERSIE) Martial decides not to run at Skrtel, finding Rooney who's tackled, and Fener break, Topal escorting a ball over the top and out to the left for Emenike. Bailly goes out to cover but does nothing to stop the low cross, and Van Persie, who's got the wrong side of Shaw, slots home a poacher's finish. Old Trafford seems to enjoy it, Alex Ferguson in particular. ™