Bristol City dump Man United out of EFL Cup with last-gasp knockout blow

First Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s best-laid travel plans were knocked off course by fog that shrouded the West Country. Then his hopes of defending the League Cup suffered a similar fate thanks to Korey Smith’s stoppage-time winner.

United’s mid-morning flight from Manchester to Bristol had to be diverted to Cardiff and it looked as though a morning of frustration would be followed by an evening of despair when Bristol City took the lead in their Carabao Cup quarter-final in exhilarating fashion thanks to Joe Bryan.

Ibrahimovic, captaining United on his first start of the season due to injury, may well have looked ring-rusty but he still had enough about him to maintain his club’s interest in this competition until Smith found space in the penalty box in the dying moments of this game.

The presence of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the starting line-up, had shown Mourinho continues to hold the Carabao Cup in high regard.

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But Lee Johnson’s Championship promotion contenders immediately gave notice that they would not be awe-struck when Marlon Pack nut-megged Ibrahimovic.

That set the tone for a frenetic opening as the West Country upstarts set about their visitors with all the vigour that has had pulses racing in the West Country this season.

City have already knocked Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace out of this competition and the high-energy trio of Joe Bryan, Jamie Paterson and Bobby Reid all showed they were not to be underestimated.

Pogba, easing his way back into action following a three-match suspension, tried to restore order but was pickpocketed by Pack whom he fouled in a dangerous position paving the way for Josh Brownhill to sting Sergio Romero’s palms with a free-kick.

United finally got into their stride and Ibrahimovic almost gave United the lead in the 11th minute following good work by Anthony Martial but his half-volley was deflected on the crossbar by Nathan Baker.

The home side continued to live dangerously and Rashford went one way and then the other before his right-footed shot thudded off the base of Luke Steele’s right-hand post.

Those two scares might have been enough to put lesser teams back in their place but Johnson’s team played with a joyfulness that ensured United were pushed on to the back foot.

The long throw-ins of Icelandic international Hordur Magnusson, accompanied by thunderclaps, would have caused consternation among the travelling supporters in the Atyeo Stand but the resolute Romero stood firm.

The Argentine also came to his rescue when Magnusson set his sights on goal when the ball was at his feet and had to punch away a powerful 25-yard shot.

Ibrahimovic had an easier chance following Danny Blind’s corner but sliced wide as Ashton Gate held its collective breath.

It looked like his might end up regretting his wild ways when Korey Smith found space in the United penalty area but Blind then came to the rescue with a perfectly-timed tackle.

There might not have been a goal before half-time but a humdinger of a cup tie was still unfolding at a jam-packed Ashton Gate.

United looked like a team who had been told to raise their game after the break but Luke Steele, who was on the Old Trafford books as a youngster, frustrated his old club with a fine save to keep out Rashford’s free-kick.

There was, though, no stopping City who snapped straight back at their illustrious opponents who were caught on the counter-attack and fell behind in the 51st minute.

Bryan, the son of a heart surgeon, tricked his way out of the midfield trenches before being set free by Pack and then curling the ball past Romero in sumptuous fashion and in doing so showed why he is one of the hottest properties outside the Premier League.

It is thanks to Ibrahimovic that the celebrations were cut short seven minutes later. Pogba was fouled and the Swede stepped up to drive a 22-yard free-kick beneath the wall and beyond Steele to send the tie toward extra-time.

But then Smith stepped forward in the third and final minute of stoppage time to drive a low shot past Romero and prompt a pitch invasion following the final whistle.