Shrewsbury Town 0 Manchester United 3 - match report and pictures

The world's media descended on Greenhous Meadow with the scent of a famous upset and ready to sound the death knell of Louis van Gaal.

In the end, neither happened, despite Town fans doing as Andy Mangan said and dared to dream, as the dream died.

Mellon's players gave everything and left nothing out on the pitch, yet it wasn't a night where they will look back and say they raised their game enough to threaten an upset.

Ultimately, first-half goals from captain Chris Smalling eight minutes before half-time and a Juan Mata free kick on the stroke of half-time barely acknowledged United's overwhelming supremacy.

And when Jesse Lingard expertly found a gap in Town's overworked defence to make it 3-0 just after the hour, any hope Shrewsbury had of salvaging a famous upset quickly extinguished into the cold night air.

It was a crushing confirmation of the 60-place gap between the teams in the footballing pyramid as Mellon's battling side were left chasing shadows at times.

United were able to play out the last 13 minutes with 10 men after substitute Will Keane was forced off injured.

That final period signalled the best part of the game for Salop, but when the golden chance came for some glory in the form of a consolation, Abu Ogogo fluffed his lines.

Instead, Town were left to reflect on the sobering reality of a League One survival which resumes in earnest at relegation rivals Colchester on Saturday.

Town named an unchanged line-up from the side that beat Blackpool 3-2 nine days ago as they prepared for the game of their lives.

Winger Shaun Whalley played a more withdrawn role than he has done of late, as Town switched to 3-5-2 from 3-4-2-1.

United were without 13 players but any sympathy at their absences was quickly tempered by the fact they still fielded a star-studded side costing £175m.

By contrast, Mellon's side cost nothing in fees, but matched their illustrious visitors for effort as they looked to close the huge gulf in quality between the sides.

In front of a capacity crowd and many millions watching around the world, the scene was set for a memorable night at the Meadow.

And Salop wore their local heroes tag proudly and didn't disappoint as they stood firm despite resisting considerable pressure up until the break.

The first period was played virtually exclusively in Town's half which put huge pressure on the home defence, but they repelled United for long spells.

While Town generally kept the visitors at bay, they weren't so successful at keeping the ball and were guilty of giving it away soon after they won it back.

Perhaps the tone was set as early as the second minute when Smalling crashed over a towering free header from six yards from Daley Blind's corner.

Town were determined not to give United an easy ride though and Red Devils season ticket holder Ian Black left a foot in on Ander Herrara, who spun dramatically to the ground.

Memphis Depay seemed to employ a shoot-on-sight policy as he led United's flurry of attacks.

First he flashed a wild effort so far over the bar it hit the roof of the stand to loud cheers then blazed another rising shot way too high.

And it was little surprise that the £25m winger forced the first save with 10 minutes gone when his low left footed effort to the bottom corner had Jayson Leutwiler sticking out his left hand at full stretch to tip away.

Ander Herrera was next to try his luck, three minutes later, but Whitbread blocked and Blind's deep cross swirled out of play.

Herrera fancied his chances again but could only send a rising shot over the bar as United continued to camp in Town's half.

Memphis was then denied by his own player as his curling attempt hit the head of Anthony Martial to divert well wide as Leutwiler moved to his left.

But United were desperately close to the opening goal they continually threatened on 28 minutes.

Juan Mata threaded it through to Martial, whose deflected shot hits the legs of Leutwiler then Ogogo headed it off the line.

Martial went close again when he beat the offside trap but his shot was blocked by Jerrmaine Grandison steaming in, and, after Leutwiler punched, Junior Brown cleared.

Town held out until eight minutes before the break, and given their overwhelming dominance, there was a certain inevitability to it.

Smalling hooked home off Nat Knight-Percival and the deflection saw the ball loop beyond Leutwiler after Morgan Schneiderlin beat Brown in the air to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's cross.

United doubled their lead in simpler fashion seconds before the half-time whistle when Mata's curling free kick beat Leutwiler more easily than the static keeper would have liked, but he might have been put off by the three-man United 'wall' in front of him.

Whitbread was booked after bringing down Martial right on the edge of the box to earn the set-piece.

Mellon looked to ask some questions of United with a half-time change which saw United academy graduate Larnell Cole on for Nat Knight-Percival as they switched to 4-4-2.

But they struggled to create chances and Lingard's strike clinched United's place in the quarter-finals at home to West Ham.

It was only when United lost Keane that Town finally threatened.

But on 84 minutes, Ogogo's toe poke was hacked away from near the line by Joe Riley after Cole's cross was deflected into his path.

Three minutes later there was an excellent chance for Town but Ogogo, unmarked, headed wide from Jack Grimmer's centre.

Memphis was denied again as Leutwiler palmed away his low effort.

Then in injury time, Cole missed the chance of a consolation against his old club as his swerving shot flew just over.

So, back to the league for Town. But thanks for the journey.