MAN UA UA, YAUA TENA ENGLAND

So far, this has not been a straightforward season for Manchester United.

This, though, was one of their better nights. Cursed by injury and troubled by fluctuating form, United have stuttered a little since their opening Barclays Premier League defeat by Everton last month.

On Wednesday, however, United had a reasonably routine cup win to reflect on and manager Sir Alex Ferguson was able to oversee a welcome start for Darren Fletcher and a satisfactory comeback for Wayne Rooney.

Relief: Tom Cleverley was delighted to score after missing a sitter earlier in the game

Good hit: Tom Cleverley smashed in Manchester United's second goal

MATCH FACTS

Man Utd: De Gea, Vermiji (Tunnicliffe 77min), Wootton, Keane, Buttner (Brady 86min), Cleverley, Fletcher, Anderson, Rooney (Powell 76min), Welbeck, Hernandez. Subs not used: Johnstone, Evans, Lingard, King.

Goals: Anderson 44, Cleverley 58

Newcastle: Elliot, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini (Ferguson 61min), Tavernier, Obertan, Tiote(Bigirimana 71min), Gosling, Marveaux, Vuckic (Cisse 61min), Shola Ameobi. Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.

Booked: Tiote, Bigirimana.

Goals: Cisse 61

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Attendance: 46,358

The goals came from the Brazilian midfielder Anderson, in the first half, and from England's Tom Cleverley, his first senior goal for United, in the second. Both were superbly taken.

There was a young look to this United team. The back four had only two first-team appearances between them prior to Wednesday as young Scott Wootton and Belgian Marnick Vermijl made their senior debuts.

At times Newcastle managed to impose themselves. A headed goal from substitute Papiss Cisse gave Alan Pardew's side hope with half an hour left, and, as time ran out, the striker dropped a sensational overhead kick on to the crossbar.

On the whole, though, this was a game United deserved to win and Fletcher was pleased to come through his first start for 10 months without much fuss.

'It's great to be back,' said the midfielder. 'The young players behind me were fantastic and they can be proud of themselves.'

Peach: Anderson opened the scoring with a beauty which hit the post on its way in

Dad wins Tun of money

The father of young Ryan Tunnicliffe became £10,000richer when the 19-year-old Manchester Unitedmidfielder came on for his debut in the 76th minute. A £100 bet placed when his son was nine that he wouldone day play for United (at odds of 100-1) does not look so fanciful now.

Rooney was into his stride pretty quickly, delivering a raking crossfield pass that eventually fell to the advancing left back Alexander Buttner 20 yards out.

Having scored on his one previous appearance, against Wigan in the league, the 23-year-old defender tried his luck with a dipping volley and Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot was relieved to see the ball pass narrowly over the crossbar.

Newcastle, however, had clearly come here to play, despite making nine changes from the weekend win over Norwich, and were soon placing United under a little pressure.

Centre back Mike Williamson may have done better than get minimal contact on a header from a free-kick early on and midfielder Dan Gosling will rue not doing better with a volley from 10 yards as he moved on to a knock-down from Shola Ameobi.

That transpired to be Newcastle's best opportunity of the first half. United, on the other hand, fashioned two super opportunities that Elliot did very well to repel, before they eventually scored.

New boy: Ryan Tunnicliffe made his senior debut for United

Close one: Javier Hernandez (right) went close on a number of occasions but was unable to score

First Anderson exchanged passes with Cleverley, burst into the penalty area and forced Elliot to touch over his fierce shot.

Then a superb 50-yard Rooney pass inside right back James Perch allowed Danny Welbeck to turn inside Williamson and drive low towards the far corner where the goalkeeper stretched out a hand to divert the ball wide.

Newcastle were perhaps waiting for half-time and that feeling was strengthened when Cleverley was allowed to place a shot wide from 10 yards when it looked far easier to score.

Minutes later, though, Anderson picked up possession wide on the right, drove inside while holding off Gosling, and smashed a terrific shot into the top corner from 25 yards with his left foot.

According to the rather indiscreet Rooney, Ferguson had words for Cleverley during the interval. 'At half time, the manager was not pleased with Tom for his miss,' said the striker.

Hope: Papiss Cisse scored to give Newcastle the chance of getting something from the game

The 23-year-old has not found scoring goals easy during his short career. He recently missed two presentable chances for England at Wembley.

Happily for him, though, he broke his United duck 10 minutes into the second half, curling a precise low shot in to Elliot's corner from the edge of the area.

At that moment the game looked over. But when young Newcastle substitute Shane Ferguson crossed for Cisse to head in from six yards with almost half an hour left Pardew's side found some belief.

Javier Hernandez hit the bar at the other end but it was Newcastle who finished better as they asked questions of United's defenders with some decent aerial deliveries.

Cisse's overhead kick was the highlight of that passage of play and Pardew was left to reflect on what may have happened had he been bold enough to field a stronger team.