Ighalo nets brace as United enters FA Cup quarter-finals

United will travel to Norwich City in the last eight after the Premier League’s bottom club beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties on Wednesday. Derby started well but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team took control. Left-back Luke Shaw broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a shot that bounced off the turf and over Derby goalkeeper Kelle Roos.

Shaw then provided the assist for Ighalo, who muscled through and poked home United’s second four minutes before half-time. The 30-year-old Nigerian striker, who arrived at Old Trafford in January on loan till the end of the season from China’s Shanghai Shenhua, doubled his tally in the 70th minute with a left-footed shot off a rebound.

“As long as my teammates believe in me, the boss believes in me and the fans believe in me, I just have to keep going,” said Ighalo, who has now scored three goals from two starts.

Rooney, who joined Derby this season after a stint with MLS side DC United, had a great chance to score but the midfielder’s 36th-minute free-kick drew a fingertip save from United keeper Sergio Romero.