Manchester United close on Wembley with ninth straight win

Manchester United eased to a 2-0 victory over Hull City to put them in a commanding position in their League Cup semi-final.

Juan Mata struck shortly after the interval, latching onto Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s clever header across goal, before substitute Marouane Fellaini sealed the win late on - a ninth success in a row.

Mata almost broke the deadlock as early as the second minute, but was denied by a superb Eldin Jakupovic save as United laid siege to the Hull goal in the opening exchanges.

The first half was one-way traffic as Hull defended in numbers, but keeping record-chasing Wayne Rooney quiet was a simple task as the United skipper endured a difficult 45 minutes.

Frustration grew around Old Trafford as chances continued to be missed after the break, but Mata relieved some of that tension on 56 minutes, tapping in at the far post to open the scoring – his third in his last four League Cup appearances.

Then, not always a popular figure around M16, Fellaini headed in three minutes from time to put United in the driving seat ahead of the second leg in two week's time, as Jose Mourinho’s love affair with this competition looks set to continue.

How much longer does Wayne Rooney have to wait? At times, it seemed his team-mates were simply just trying to pick only him out, but Rooney failed to find that strike that writes his name into Manchester United folklore. That opportunity did come in the second half, but Rooney seemed to tighten up as he bore down on goal, before dragging his shot wide. Jose Mourinho was ever the arch-pragmatist, taking Rooney off, but it was never going to be his night. Goal 250 cannot be far away, surely?

Juan Mata (Manchester United). Like his manager, Mata seems to enjoy playing in this competition. Much of United’s fine football in the first half came through the fleet-footed Spaniard, who created some big chances for the hosts. And, as United grew more frustrated, his alertness led to the opening, and oh so crucial, opener.

Hull: Jakupovic 7, Robertson 7, Maguire 8, Meyler 6, Huddlestone 6, Snodgrass 7, Clucas 6, Diomande 6, Henriksen 6, Mason 6, Tymon 6... Subs: Hernandez 5, Maloney 6, Weir N/A

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Jones 6, Smalling 6, Darmian 8, Herrera 7, Pogba 7, Mata 8, Rooney 6, Mkhitaryan 6, Rashford 6... Subs: Fellaini 7, Lingard 6, Martial 6.

2' - SAVE! What a start that almost was for United! Matteo Darmian carries the ball down the right, but rather than lump a cross into the middle, the Italian picks out the run of Juan Mata, who fires at goal first time, but Eldin Jakupovic superbly tips it away to his right!

18' - MISS! Tremendous football from United. Rooney feeds Mata, who skips past Adama Diomande easily, shows great feet to pick out Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who fires wide from point blank range. Should be 1-0.

31' - POST! The deadlock is almost broken.... by Hull! Robert Snodgrass floats the ball into the middle, it is headed up in the air, United defenders stand and stare, Diomande nips in, heads at goal, but the ball comes out off the post and falls into De Gea's hands.

51' - THAT WAS HIS MOMENT! Pogba floats a superb pass over the top for Rooney to run onto, the angle is a little tight, but the skipper misses the target, flashing the ball wide of the far post.

56' - GOAL! United 1-0 Hull. Mata nips in at the far post to open the scoring. The Spaniard gets his second EFL Cup goal of the campaign, after Mkhitaryan had directed a header towards goal from a lofted Valencia cross. The Armenian got up so well to get his head to that. Very easy for United down the right.

73' - POST! Superb effort from Pogba, as he whips a free-kick from fully 25-yards at goal, it looks in, but the ball thunders against the post and flies clear.

87' - GOAL! United 2-0 Hull. Fellaini heads a vital second to put the hosts in control. He isn't everyone's cup of tea around these parts, but Fellaini is talk of the town now after looping a header over Jakupovic to net United's second. Darmian with the cross. The Italian has been a real outlet all match.

Hull have failed to score in each of their last four matches against Man Utd, losing three and drawing the other.

Man Utd have won 12 and lost none of their last 13 matches against Hull City in all competitions (D1).

All three of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's assists for Manchester United have been in the EFL Cup.

Marouane Fellaini has scored his first League Cup goal since August 2013 (Everton v Stevenage).