Reserves win at Fleetwood

Darron Gibson was on duty for United Reserves on Wednesday night as the Reds beat Fleetwood Town 2-0 in the latest pre-season friendly.

The Republic of Ireland international again captained Warren Joyce's side, but fellow midfielder Paul Pogba stole some of the limelight with a stunning first goal on 58 minutes. The young Frenchman produced something of a trademark strike, a right-footer from 25 yards that arced into the top right-hand corner giving Fleetwood goalkeeper Scott Davies little chance of saving it.

Danny Drinkwater maintained his record of scoring in every Reserves warm-up game so far when, five minutes from the end of a feisty yet fair contest, he attacked the right-hand byline and beat the full-back before slotting home from a tight angle.

This confident defeat of an ambitious Conference side represents the Reserves' best pre-season result so far and sets up Joyce's young squad for a two-match trip to Scotland where Spartans and Ayr United will provide the opposition.

United: Sam Johnstone; Michael Keane, Tom Thorpe (Larnell Cole, 46), Sean McGinty (Luke Giverin, 87), Ezekiel Fryers; Danny Drinkwater, Paul Pogba (Max Lonsdale, 87), Darron Gibson, Davide Petrucci (Jesse Lingard, 65), Oliver Norwood (Rafael Leao, 89); Will Keane (John Cofie, 46). Sub not used: Liam Jacob.

More: Pre-season friendlies | Reserves 2011/2012 games | Curzon Ashton 1-4 Utd | Shrewsbury 2-1 Utd