After an early scare, Manchester United came from 1-0 down to beat Scunthorpe United 5-2 at Glanford Park. Sir Alex Ferguson was absent after flying out to Spain to watch Champions League opponents Valencia play Atletico Madrid.

United made 11 changes to the team who beat Liverpool- Tomasz Kuszczak, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling, Rafael Da Silva, Ji-Sung Park, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Michael Owen and Federico Macheda all came in.

Scunthorpe got off to the better start with five efforts in the first 15 minutes and deservedly took the lead in the 19th minute. Josh Wright hit a brilliant 25-yard strike, which flew past Kuszczak and into the top corner.

The dream start only lasted for four minutes; a long ball from from Smalling was lobbed over the keeper by Gibson. The equaliser for Man United didn’t phase the home side, who continued to attack; forcing some less than convincing saves from Kuszczak.

A great finish by Smalling from a cross from Park gave Man United the lead in the 36th minute.

After the break, it took Owen only four minutes to score his first goal of the night. Owen was put through one goal, one-on-one with the keeper with a great finish; he put the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

The game was definitely put to bed in the 54th minute. An Anderson corner wasn’t cleared properly by Scunthorpe, Parks low strike made it 4-1.Owen couldn’t miss his second goal, Parks shot was spilled by keeper Joe Murphy, Owen was there to tap it in to make it 5-1.

The game may have been over but there was still time for a bit more drama and a few moments of note. United’s new £7 million signing Bebe came on with 16 minutes remaining, minutes later he was followed by a male streaker.

Lifelong Man United fan Martyn Woolford pulled out back for the home side, he poked the ball past Kuszczak in a crowded penalty area. It finished Scunthorpe 2-5 Manchester United. Man United are now through to the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

It was an uncomfortable start for Man United, Scunthorpe played well, especially in the first half but the visitors were able to take hold of the game and win comfortably. There were a few nervous moments for Kuszczak in the United goal, following his comments earlier today that if he does not play more, then like Ben Foster, he may have to leave.

Other Carling Cup results were- Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea 3-4 Newcastle United, Wigan 2-1 Preston North End, Liverpool 2-2 Northampton Town (Northampton won 4-2 on penalties) and West Brom 2-1 Man City.