Darron Gibson swept in the second of his delightful double, the smirk on Sir Alex Ferguson's face shone from the stands.
Sitting in the stands due to his dugout ban, the Manchester United manager couldn’t help but be pleased with the Irishman’s display as the holders progressed to the League Cup semi-finals.
With the barrage of criticism directed at his youngsters still ringing in his ears after the Besiktas debacle, Gibson’s interjection was timely.
The same critics who slated the performance against the Turkish
champions and wrote off the sprightly performers after one disappointing display faced Ferguson’s wrath in the pre-match press conference. A similar tirade came their way in the aftermath of Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Harry Redknapp’s top-four chasing Tottenham Hotspur.
In truth, the United team sheet contained a more balanced mix of youth and experience than that which trotted out for Champions League duty a week before.
While the Besiktas door refused to be battered down that time, the difference stemmed from Gibson’s right boot. From the rocket that was drilled in to the bottom of the net, to the cultured sweep that saw the ball nestle in the top corner, this was a textbook display of long-range shooting.
