Manchester United problem costs them again in dismal FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough

A killer instinct

Before the walls started to cave in Manchester United were in control of this FA Cup fourth-round tie. They were as dominant early in the second half as they had been throughout the first and the only surprise was it was still only 1-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo has missed a penalty, put a presentable chance into the side-netting and fluffed a one-on-one. Bruno Fernandes had volleyed a good chance into the stands and Marcus Rashford had done the same with an even better opportunity in front of the Stretford End.

From nowhere Middlesbrough forced a chance, Dean Henderson saving from Matt Crooks, and from there they grew into the game. Once they equalised United wilted.

There was a spell before full-time when Fred looked like United's most creative player but for the final 15 minutes of normal time and for all of extra-time this was a team devoid of ideas and inspiration, unable to trouble a Championship side despite playing at Old Trafford and having Ronaldo and Rashford on the pitch.

It was two of United's many problems haunting them. A lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and then a total lack of confidence once the going gets tough. This is a squad full of winners but they rarely displayed that collective mentality this season.

Sancho finds his spark

United have always made it clear that they spent £73million on Jadon Sancho to be a key player for a decade, so to judge him on his first six months was unfair, but there are plenty who still expected more from the 21-year-old.

It's not been an easy start to life at Old Trafford for Sancho, who has had to acclimatise to a new system, has seen the manager change and the club lurch into crisis, while he gets used to the attention that comes with being a United