League Cup: Yes We Can

Manchester United 4 - Derby 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Nani (17), O'Shea (22), Tevez (34), Ronaldo (pen 89)
Derby: Barnes (pen 81, 90)

Team: Foster, Neville (Chester 68), Evans, O'Shea, Rafael (Fletcher 43), Gidson, Anderson, Giggs (Ronaldo 58), Nani, Welbeck, Tevez

United survived a late and furious comeback from Championship side Dery. United looked to be cruising early on in the game when Nani took matters into his own hands and fired us into the lead with a stunner.

O'Shea made it two minutes later with a good pass from Welbeck. And Tevez took the tie beyond Derby when he met Rafael's cross to head home.

I caught most of the action in the first half despite constantly switching between Obama's inauguration speech and the game. The only downside to a brilliant first half was the subsitution of Rafael, who was taken off with a hamstring injury. It does look like he's in for a lengthy down time on the treatment table.

The second half was more of the same without the goals. We pounded on Derby but Carroll was in fine form denying us.

Then came a crazy last 10 minutes to the game. Fergie had used up all three substitutes and Evans was force to trudge along with an injury. Derby exploited the weak link and exploited Evan's lack of agility in the box, resulting in a penalty which they put away.

United had a penalty of their own at the other end when Carroll brought Tevez down. Ronaldo scored from the spot to give United a 4-1 lead. By this time, the injuries had piled up. Nani was reduced to another walking wounded on the pitch and Anderson was relieved of duties.

Derby mustered one last attempted and pulled another goal back, making it a nervy last couple of minutes before the relief of the final whistle.

We set up a Wembley date with (presumably Spurs) on the 1st of March. While this was a good win, the cost of winning it may come at a high price. Rafael is confirmed out for around 3-4 weeks, while we wait on the reports of Nani, Anderson and Evans. We have been lucky with injuries so far, and now we'd be tested with a boat load of players out for a dressed rehearsal against Spurs in the FA Cup this weekend.