MANCHESTER United cruised into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 win at Shrewsbury on Monday that at least temporarily eased the mounting pressure on Louis van Gaal.

    Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard netted the goals as United wrapped up a businesslike victory against their third tier hosts to secure a last eight date with West Ham United at Old Trafford.

    Following speculation that an embarrassing defeat would be fatal to Van Gaal’s hopes of avoiding the sack, the United manager was relieved to see his side easily navigate their way through a one-sided fifth round tie.

    United, humbled by Sunderland and then FC Midtjylland in their last two matches, took 37 minutes to make the breakthrough, but once Smalling opened the scoring the result never looked in doubt.

    “I was very pleased. We have played 70 minutes fantastic, in a professional way, creating chances and scoring goals,” Van Gaal told BT Sport.

    “Everyone shall say Manchester United have to win against Shrewsbury Town, but for the players it is fantastic because we are in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.”

    As expected, United dominated possession in the early stages and they should have led from a corner with just two minutes on the clock.

    Daley Blind’s delivery from the left found the head of Smalling, but the stand-in United captain misdirected his header and it spun over the crossbar.

    Memphis Depay then tried two efforts of his own from the left of goal around 25 meters out, but both flew into the Shrewsbury fans to earn the visiting winger ironic cheers from the home crowd. (SD-Agencies)