Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England at Old Trafford
Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Championship side Birmingham City at Old Trafford.
A brace from youngster Chido Obi, along with goals from Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee, sealed the win for Ruben Amorim’s side, despite a spirited performance from Birmingham and a brace from Jay Stansfield.
The visitors took a surprise lead in the 27th minute through Stansfield, but United hit back before half-time with two quick goals from Obi. Dorgu extended the lead in the second half, but Stansfield’s second strike kept the tie alive until Zirkzee put the result beyond doubt with a late finish.
Obi Takes His Chance
With Rasmus Højlund given a rest, young striker Chido Obi stepped up with a clinical performance. His first goal came in the 36th minute with a sharp finish inside the box, while his second just before half-time displayed excellent movement and composure.
Dorgu’s Influence Growing
Since Amorim switched to the 3-5-2 formation, Patrick Dorgu has excelled in the left wing-back role. The Danish youngster was rewarded with a goal in the 58th minute, capping off an energetic display filled with overlapping runs and defensive contributions.
A Midfield Change Taking Shape
Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are forming a solid double pivot, offering both defensive protection and ball progression, but today Toby Colleyer stepped into Ugartes position and filled the role very well. Casemiro controlled the tempo, while Collyer’s aggressive pressing and tackles broke up Birmingham’s counter-attacks. Adding in a 20 minute cameo for Sekou Kone in place of Casemiro showed the future is bright for United in midfield.
Birmingham's Brave Effort
Despite being second best in possession (42%-58%), Birmingham gave United a scare with their attacking intent. Jay Stansfield’s brace showcased his finishing ability, and their xG of 4.6 indicated they had chances to make it an even tighter contest.
What’s Next for United?
United's second consecutive win in this 3-5-2 formation suggests Amorim has found a system that works. With Casemiro and Collyer controlling the midfield and Obi and Zirkzee linking up well, the Red Devils look well-positioned for a strong finish to the season.
Their next test comes in the Premier League as they face a tricky away fixture, where Amorim will hope to build on this momentum and keep United’s FA Cup dream alive.
Match Stats
**Possession:** 58% - 42%
**Shots:** 13 - 12
**xG:** 6.3 - 4.6
**Corners:** 1 - 2
**Free Kicks:** 1 - 0
**Penalties:** 0 - 1
**Yellow Cards:** 0 - 0
**Red Cards:** 0 - 0
Match Events
� 10' - Yellow Card: G. Hanley (BIR)
27' - Goal: J. Stansfield (BIR)
36' - Goal: C. Obi (MUN)
43' - Goal: C. Obi (MUN)
58' - Goal: P. Dorgu (MUN)
65' - Goal: J. Stansfield (BIR)
87' - Goal: J. Zirkzee (MUN)
**Starting Lineups**
Manchester United (3-5-2):
GK: Altay Bayindir
CB: Ayden Heaven
CB: Harry Maguire
CB: Leny Yoro
LWB: Patrick Dorgu
RWB: Diogo Dalot
CDM: Casemiro
CDM: Toby Collyer
CAM: Bruno Fernandes (c)
ST: Joshua Zirkzee
ST: Chido Obi
Birmingham City (4-2-3-1):
GK: Bailey Peacock-Farrell
RB: Alfons Sampsted
CB: Grant Hanley
CB: Christoph Klarer
LB: Alex Cochrane
CDM: Krystian Bielik
CDM: Tomoki Iwata
RM: Scott Wright
LM: Emil Hansson
CAM: Willum Þór Willumsson
ST: Jay Stansfield
Manchester United 1992-93 Squad
27' - Goal: J. Stansfield (BIR) 
